SWISSto12, a Switzerland-based satellite communications company, has awarded a contract to German space subsystem consortium HPS/LSS for a large deployable reflector subsystem for the NEASTAR-1 mission.
The reflector will be integrated with SWISSto12’s HummingSat small geostationary satellite platform. According to the company, the mission will enable direct-to-device media broadcasting capabilities from geostationary orbit, supporting direct-to-device broadcasting through a single GEO platform instead of a distributed LEO constellation.
The large deployable reflector subsystem, or LDRS, will operate in L-band and unfold in orbit after launch. HPS/LSS will supply a 5 m diameter antenna reflector, including the deployment arm and associated subassemblies. SWISSto12 said the contract supports its strategy to strengthen European capabilities for end-to-end space systems.
European-built reflector for GEO direct-to-device services
The antenna reflector subsystem is the result of more than 15 years of development supported by the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications programme, ESA Earth Observation Technology Development activities, and the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme.
The NEASTAR-1-LDRS contract is co-funded by ESA, with core funding from the German Space Agency within the German Aerospace Center, and addit ional contributions from other ESA Member States.
SWISSto12 said the project combines its HummingSat platform with a large deployable L-band reflector antenna, opening a new category of space system for direct-to-device services. The company added that the architecture could provide wide coverage for critical network capabilities without operators relying on large satellite constellations.
Since the start of the HummingSat programme, SWISSto12 has expanded its industrial footprint in Germany. The company said this latest contract strengthens the German contribution to HummingSat and supports future cooperation aligned with the German Federal Government’s Space Strategy, particularly around secure communications.
The HPS/LSS consortium joins SWISSto12’s German supply chain network, which includes ASP, AST, DLR, Tesat, Thales Germany, Jena Optronik, and Rockwell Collins Germany.
“Collaboration with HPS/LSS was fast and effective from the first day,” said Emile de Rijk, CEO and Founder of SWISSto12. “They have demonstrated a strong technical heritage and proven track record in building LDRS, notably for ESA missions, underscoring the progress of ESA and DLR’s vision to develop resilient, sovereign space capabilities.”
Ernst K. Pfeiffer, CEO of HPS GmbH, said the agreement contributes to European technological sovereignty through Swiss-German collaboration. He added that the contract delivers “tangible business results” four months after German ESA-CM25 decisions were made.
Leri Datashvili, Co-CEO and Founder of LSS GmbH, said the consortium is working to pioneer LDRS technology in Europe for communications, reconnaissance, and observation applications.
Laurent Jaffart, Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity at ESA, said the contract shows how European industrial collaboration can support next-generation connectivity, particularly in the direct-to-device domain.
About SWISSto12’s 3D printing
Founded in 2011, SWISSto12 develops satellite payloads and compact geostationary satellites. The company says it uses patented manufacturing and design technologies, including 3D printing, to manufacture advanced satellite payloads that can be hosted on third-party satellites or on its HummingSat platform.
SWISSto12 is currently delivering seven HummingSat GEO platforms to global operators. The company reported CHF 110 million in revenue in 2025 and said it has delivered 110% compound annual growth since 2022.
HummingSat is an ESA Partnership Project designed to provide compact geostationary satellite capabilities. In this case, the platform will support NEASTAR-1’s direct-to-device media broadcasting mission through the integration of the HPS/LSS deployable reflector.
HPS and LSS are German space structures companies founded in 2000 and 2012, respectively. The companies are also developing an 8 m LDRS for ESA/EU’s Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer mission, designed for frequency bands up to Ka-band.
Compact GEO systems for satellite communications
The contract follows earlier ESA backing for SWISSto12’s HummingSat program. In January, the company announced it would receive €73 million from ESA member states through the HummingSat ARTES partnership to accelerate development and industrialization of the platform. That funding was intended to expand production capacity for geostationary satellite systems and support further development of phased-array antenna technologies for LEO, MEO, and GEO satellites.
Other companies are also developing compact GEO satellite architectures for communications applications. AscendArc, a satellite telecommunications company, secured $3.95 million in funding to advance small geostationary satellites for high-bandwidth communications across military and commercial markets. The company’s work includes a partnership with OPTISYS to develop a 4.5 m dish using 3D printed radio frequency components, while its GEO-based approach is positioned around fixed coverage over designated locations rather than large LEO constellations.
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Featured image shows SWISSto12 unfurling antenna. Image via SWISSto12.
