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OPS-SAT VOLT

(Versatile Optical Laboratory for Telecommunications) ​

A next-generation satellite mission led by Craft Prospect, with support from the European Space Agency and 

the UK Space Agency

THE MISSION

OPS-SAT VOLT is a circa €19 million satellite mission funded by ESA and UKSA and led by Craft Prospect. As part of the ARTES ScyLight programme, the mission will test and demonstrate new optical and quantum communication technologies in a low Earth orbit environment. It also prioritises Earth observation and in-flight experimentation by offering reconfigurable payloads including cameras, hyperspectral imagers, and FPGAs. The project incorporates a range of Craft Prospect’s previously-developed on-board technologies, including quantum key distribution hardware and AI-powered responsive operations systems.

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Mission focus

OPTICAL AND QUANTUM COMMUNICATIONS

Our Versatile Optical Laboratory mission enables both classical and quantum communication from a CubeSat. The mission will experiment with the payload and a variety of ground segments. 

CLIMATE

RESILIENCE

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Space data is a decisive asset in climate mitigation efforts. We are enabling the on-board processing of hyperspectral data to reduce latency and increase mission returns. 

EXPERIMENTER PLATFORM

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As part of ESA's OPS-SAT programme, our satellite has been designed and built to allow third party experiments during its orbital life. 

OPS-SAT VOLT in numbers

€19 m

Budget

16U

CubeSat

9+

Partners

3+

Payloads

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Mission partners

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Key mission sub-contractors

Key mission suppliers

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Craig Colquhoun, our Space Quantum Technology Lead, presenting the OPS-SAT VOLT mission at the International Space Summit in Seoul, South Korea.

NEXT STEP

CDR

(Critical Design Review) ​

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The CDR marks the end of the design phase of the space mission. Let the building begin!​

OPS-SAT VOLT Launching 2026

NEWS

Ops-Sat VOLT in the press

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