# ALIGN Laser CubeSat UKSA NSIP Phase 3 - Lot 2 - Satellite components

> Tender notice from UK public-sector procurement sources.

## Key facts

- Public buyer: [Northumbria University](/buyers/northumbria-university/contract-awards)
- Tender value: £260,000
- Published: 3 November 2023
- Planned start: 29 April 2024
- Planned end: 28 March 2025
- Stage: open_tender
- Procurement category: goods
- Notice ID: cf6a30db-5a7a-4b77-b353-867e8dd2ce1e-694845
- OCID: ocds-b5fd17-20877662-1c91-4850-aacc-04144c46be7f

## Description

The University team is completing the build of three 6U CubeSats as part of a technology demonstration mission funded by the UK Space Agency\. This mission will see the launch of two 6U CubeSats into a sun-synchronous Low Earth Orbit \(expected 450 km altitude\) in 2026/7\. The third 6U CubeSat is our reference model\. The payload being developed for assembly integration and testing within the 6U CubeSat bus is a 2U laser communications terminal\. The mission goal will be to demonstrate inter-satellite laser optical communications across a range of link lengths up to 1000 km and at least 1 Gbps data transfer rates between the 6U CubeSats\. There will be a requirement for a number of ground-passes for frequent data downlink of the experimental results log files and the mission is anticipated to last for 1 year, including a deorbit final stage\. Satellite parts and modelling analysis services\.

## Related contract awards

- [T25/0037 - Apple Equipment and Associated Services](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-328b0717-4432-4c55-9204-77cc45d9ef4d): Northumbria University
- [GB-Newcastle upon Tyne: T25/0030 Library Tower Refurbishment - Lead Designer/Design Team](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-e5ee0ae7-7948-427e-93af-37a810b749a5): Northumbria University
- [GB-Newcastle upon Tyne: Cost Manager and Contract Administrator](/contracts/ocds-b5fd17-3bcfdb6f-a00f-48a4-a2bc-99df88321361): Northumbria University

## Source

[View the original notice on Contracts Finder](https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/cf6a30db-5a7a-4b77-b353-867e8dd2ce1e-694845)