AAC Clyde Space has won an ESA contract for the xSPANCION programme, as announced on 18 November. xSPANCION intends to orbit 10 CubeSat-class spacecraft to provide Earth observation and communications products. This will enable businesses to utilise space-based data without having their own in-orbit assets. The project has €19.9m (US$22.5m) in funding, made up of €10m from ESA and €9.9m from the UK Space Agency.
AAC Clyde will have responsibility for design, manufacturing and operation of the satellites. The work is expected to take place in its Glasgow, Scotland, office. Also involved in the project are: Bright Ascension, the University of Strathclyde, D-Orbit UK, the Satellite Applications Catapult and Alden Legal UK.
