Exotrail Completes First In-Orbit Delivery with Spacevan Orbital Transfer Vehicle

Exotrail’s orbital transfer vehicle successfully deployed its first passenger in orbit, completing the demonstration of its new satellite delivery service, “spacedrop.” Launched in November 2023 aboard the SpaceX Transporter 9 mission, Exotrail conducted this delivery mission with the French Space Agency (CNES) and other space surveillance and tracking (SST) partners. 

The “spacevan” orbital transfer vehicle delivered EXO-0, a satellite manufactured by Endurosat, with an Airbus Defense and Space payload. Airbus’s payload is designed to complete active space debris removal. 

Spacedrop is Exotrail’s new delivery service for satellites. This service aims to provide space access to satellites with mobility needs such as Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations distributed over several orbits. 

“Today is an historic moment for Exotrail, as this achievement marks a new leap towards becoming a worldwide space logistics leader. I am extremely proud of the teams for delivering a client’s satellite to orbit, making the most of our in-house tools. The Spacevan-001 mission has showcased our capacities to deliver for our customers, and we have certainly learned a lot on the journey,” said Jean-Luc Maria, Exotrail CEO and co-founder. 

This mission brought together Exotrail’s hardware and software products. The spacedrop service relies on the spacestudio software for the mission design and on the orbital transfer vehicle and spaceware electric propulsion systems. It also utilized its spacetower software for operational flight dynamics.

 

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