OHB Sweden, Stockholm, and AAC Microtec, Uppsala, have been appointed by the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB) to deliver a highly capable small satellite platform, named InnoSat, and to accomplish the advanced scientific mission named MATS (Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography and Spectroscopy).

The two companies' extensive expertise, innovative products and efficient work approaches are successfully combined, giving Sweden the advantage to build advanced satellites at a very competitive price.

OHB Sweden and AAC Microtec have been contracted by SNSB to develop, integrate and operate MATS, the first scientific mission based on the new innovative state-of-the-art small satellite platform. The launch of the satellite is currently planned for spring 2018. The total contract value including launch and operations is about 9 Million Euro.

"We are very enthusiastic that SNSB decided to create national space missions in a timely and cost effective manner. This will once again give our Swedish scientists the chance for unique world-class research. For us it means that we retain and further develop the national capacity to build complete space systems. As the next innovation step after satellites like Odin, SMART-1 and PRISMA, we are together with AAC Microtec developing a highly competitive product for the international market", says Gierth Olsson, CEO of OHB Sweden.

"There is a clear trend for smaller and more affordable satellites meeting higher performance requirements than was previously possible. The development of the small satellite market has really exploded in recent years.

"Driving factors are among other technological progress and budget constraints forcing a paradigm shift. We see a huge global potential for AAC's reliable satellite systems and the new InnoSat platform and look forward to the cooperation with OHB Sweden, "says Mikael Andersson, CEO of AAC Microtec.

InnoSat is a satellite in the micro-class (10-100 kg), which in its standard version will have a mass of about 40 kg and dimensions of 60 x 70 x 85 cm. The satellite design is flexible and can be adapted for other instruments with requirements beyond the standard specification.