Airbus Defence and Space Sas

René Cheynet De Beaupre

Cyril Tourneur

Dominique Poncet

Philippe Bertheux

Francis Palayret

Disclosed is a satellite including a cylindrical main body, the main body having an inner wall defining an inner space and an outer wall, and extending along a main axis between a lower end surface and an upper end surface, at least one of the lower end surface and the upper end surface including an interface mechanism intended for engaging with a complementary interface mechanism of another satellite or of a launcher, the satellite also including at least one external device attached to the outer wall of the main body, the outer device extending to project transversely from the outer wall relative to the main axis.

Satellite with cylindrical main body, stack comprising such a satellite and launch assembly for such a satellite

A system and method for transferring a satellite from an initial orbit into a mission orbit. The method includes anchoring to the satellite of an external unit having a tank containing a reserve of propellants. The system includes an autonomous spacecraft having an electric propulsion module and a small internal reserve of propellants, located in a parking orbit close to the initial orbit. The spacecraft with the external unit attached to the satellite is docketed in an initial orbit, to produce a fluidic connection of the propellant tank of the external unit to the propulsion module of the spacecraft. The external unit and satellite is transferred into the mission orbit by the electric propulsion module of the spacecraft supplied with propellants directly from the external unit, thereby releasing the satellite into the mission orbit.

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Toulouse, France

René Cheynet De Beaupre