OHB's modular, lightweight geostationary satellite platform in the 3-ton class, designed for telecommunications, Earth observation, and technology-demonstration payloads.
SmallGEO
OHB's modular, lightweight geostationary satellite platform in the 3-ton class, designed for telecommunications, Earth observation, and technology-demonstration payloads.
Description
SmallGEO is OHB System AG's flagship geostationary satellite platform, developed as a public-private partnership with ESA under the ARTES-11 program and satellite operator Hispasat. It offers a lighter, more cost-efficient alternative to classical 6-8 ton geostationary buses, targeting commercial telecommunications while remaining flexible for Earth observation and meteorology missions. The platform has a modular architecture that lets customers configure payload, power, and propulsion (chemical, hybrid, or fully electric) without major changes to the underlying bus. SmallGEO supports payload masses up to about 400-900 kg and payload power up to 3-3.5 kW at end of life, with a 15-year design lifetime. Flight heritage includes Hispasat 36W-1 (the first SmallGEO satellite, launched January 2017), EDRS-C/Hylas-3 for ESA's European Data Relay System (2019), Heinrich Hertz for German governmental communications (2023), Electra (SES's first fully electric-propulsion telecom satellite), and the MTG-I meteorological imaging satellites for EUMETSAT's Meteosat Third Generation program.
Specifications
| Platform class | 3-ton class geostationary satellite bus |
|---|---|
| Wet mass (GTO) | up to ~3,200-3,800 kg |
| Payload mass capacity | up to 400-900 kg depending on configuration |
| Payload power | up to 3-3.5 kW at end of life |
| Propulsion options | Classic chemical, hybrid, or fully electric propulsion |
| Mission lifetime | up to 15 years |
| Stabilization | 3-axis stabilized with reaction wheels and star trackers |
| Payload frequency support | P, L, S, C, X, Ku, and Ka-band communication payloads |
| Program origin | Developed under ESA ARTES-11 program with OHB and Hispasat |
| Flight heritage | Hispasat 36W-1 (2017, first SmallGEO satellite); EDRS-C/Hylas-3 for ESA (2019); Heinrich Hertz (2023); Electra (SES); MTG-I/MTG-S meteorological satellites for EUMETSAT |