The WSBW 2024 Editions: Adel Haddoud, CEO and Co-Founder of France's Infinite Orbits
MESM's Paris correspondent, Manel Kerioui, sat down with Adel Haddoud to discover the capabilities and regional ambitions of Infinite Orbits.
France’s Infinite Orbits is rapidly establishing itself as one the few European companies developing and offering in-orbit services for satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO) including services to extend, optimize, inspect or transfer geostationary assets. With the growing number of GEO satellite operators in the Middle East, on-orbit servicing will become a more important requirement so Middle East Space Monitor’s Paris correspondent Manel Kerioui sat down with Adel Haddoud, Infinite Orbit’s co-founder and CEO, on the sidelines of Novaspace’s World Space Business Week held in Paris, France, on 16-20 September 2024. The Middle East Space Monitor is proud to be a media partner for the 2024 World Space Business Week.
Q: Infinite Orbits has developed cutting-edge Autonomous Vision-Based Navigation technology that powers your Rendezvous solution. Can you explain how this technology has evolved and what specific advantages it offers over traditional satellite servicing methods, particularly in terms of precision and autonomy?
A: It's fascinating when you think about how much space activity has accelerated. For context, from the launch of the very first satellite, Sputnik, in 1957, until around 2020, humanity sent about 2,500 satellites into orbit. But in just the last three years, we've launched 10,000 more. So in a fraction of the time, we've quadrupled the number of satellites.
This explosion of activity has created an entirely new market in space, called in-orbit servicing. Essentially, as more satellites are deployed, there's an increasing need to service them directly in orbit. And that’s where we come in. To service a satellite, you first have to get close to it—this is where our Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) technology comes into play.
Now, it's important to understand that this kind of servicing didn’t really exist until recently. If you go back 10 or 15 years, the only in-orbit servicing example was when astronauts had to physically repair the Hubble Space Telescope. They rendezvoused with the telescope, replaced its faulty mirror, and the whole mission cost billions of dollars.
The goal today is to make these missions much more efficient—servicing satellites autonomously, without needing astronauts to step out and fix things manually. So, we’re not simply improving an existing technology; we’re creating the technology to make this new market a reality. The core of this technology is RPO.
Let me give you an analogy: imagine an autonomous car. We’re doing something very similar, but in space. Our satellites use cameras to “see” and navigate. This is a big shift from traditional methods, which rely on active sensors like radar or LiDAR. The problem with these sensors is twofold. First, they consume a lot of energy, which is limited in space. Second, they only provide minimal information by bouncing signals off objects and waiting for them to return.
A camera, on the other hand, is lightweight and efficient. It simply captures visual data—millions of pieces of information every half second—and with the right algorithms, we can process that data quickly to understand the satellite's surroundings. This is the breakthrough: using vision-based navigation to conduct proximity operations with much less power.
In fact, our vision-based autonomous navigation system is the foundation of our technology. It’s the only patent we have. Instead of selling cameras, we integrate them into our satellites and offer services like satellite inspection or docking. Right now, we can already inspect satellites, and in the future, as the technology evolves, we’ll be able to perform more complex tasks like refueling or even removing defunct satellites from orbit.
So, in a nutshell, we are pioneering the technology and services that enable rendezvous and proximity operations in space, bringing autonomy to satellite servicing.
Q: Infinite Orbits places a strong emphasis on sustainability. How do your in-orbit services contribute to a more sustainable space environment, and what steps are you taking to minimize space debris and optimize satellite lifecycles?
A: It’s really more about optimizing satellite lifecycles than directly removing debris. The name "Infinite Orbits" reflects this. We’re very proud of it because it represents our mission—to enable assets to remain in orbit indefinitely. Instead of constantly replacing satellites, which is both costly and wasteful, we focus on extending their operational lives. For example, if a satellite runs out of fuel, we can refuel it. If it's completely out of fuel, we can even take over its navigation. By doing this, we help make space more sustainable. These are incredibly expensive assets, and we’re making sure they last longer, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
Take a geostationary satellite, which is the primary use case we’re targeting. When these satellites are built, they’re designed with redundancies and state-of-the-art electronics, so they can function for 20 to 30 years. Some parts could even last up to 50 years since not everything is affected by radiation. To throw all of that away just because it’s out of fuel seems absurd—it’s like buying a car and replacing it entirely the moment the gas tank is empty. So, in short, our contribution to sustainability is about prolonging the life of satellites, which reduces the need to manufacture and launch new ones.
Now, as for space debris, we aren’t actively removing it yet. It's a tricky problem, and frankly, not very commercial at the moment. Think of it like trying to clean the ocean—you could spend a fortune to retrieve a single bottle from the middle of the Pacific, but it won’t make much of a difference. Instead, we believe that by extending the life of satellites, we prevent them from becoming debris in the first place. It’s about addressing the issue in a way that makes sense technologically and economically right now.
Q: Your GEORyder project aims to provide an innovative solution for smallsats to access geostationary orbit. What are the major technological and logistical challenges in creating a reusable kickstage vehicle, and how do you see GEORyder shaping the future of in-space logistics and satellite deployment?
A: The first version of GEORyder won’t actually be reusable—it’s still an R&D project, funded by the EU and the European Commission, and it’s a collaborative effort with a consortium of five or six companies. We’re leading this project.
The commercial interest behind it is clear: there's a growing need for highly agile and mobile small satellites, especially in geostationary orbit (GEO), where they can perform tasks like surveillance and inspection. Small satellites are attractive because they're cheaper to build and you can deploy a lot of them for various missions. But the challenge is getting them to GEO. Small satellites don’t have the propulsion or fuel capacity to make it there on their own.
That’s where an orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) comes in. The idea is to have an OTV take these small satellites from the lower orbits, where rockets typically drop them off, up to GEO. The next step is to make this vehicle reusable. To achieve that, it needs the ability to refuel and perform rendezvous maneuvers, meaning it can approach and dock with a satellite, grab it, and take it to its destination.
While this is still a little ways off—it's not happening tomorrow—many companies, including ours, are investing heavily in space logistics. Right now, we're focused on logistics to space—kickstages and last-mile delivery. But the future will be about logistics in space: moving assets from one orbit to another, or even from Earth’s orbit to the Moon for new missions.
The key to this future is reusability. You wouldn’t build an airplane just to scrap it after one flight, right? The same goes for space vehicles. And that’s why rendezvous and proximity operations technology is so crucial. If we want reusable systems, they need to be able to approach, dock, and move assets from one place to another. Otherwise, we’re stuck with the inefficient model of continuously sending new things from Earth.
Ultimately, the future of space logistics depends on mastering these capabilities. Once we do, assets in space will no longer need to carry massive amounts of fuel for constant movement. They can focus on their missions—whether it's surveillance, inspection, or repairs—while a separate system handles their transport.
It’s similar to having a specialized tool that’s designed for one job, like digging a hole in the wall. You wouldn’t want to attach a car to that tool just to move it from one job site to the next. Instead, you transport the tool where it’s needed, let it do its job, and then move it again later. Space works the same way—keep the assets light and mission-focused, and let a dedicated system handle the logistics.
While GEORyder is a bit further down the road, we have other projects, like Orbit Guard and Endurance, that are happening in the next two to three years. But the vision for GEORyder is to shape the future of in-space logistics by enabling this level of mobility and reusability.
Q: The Orbit Guard™ satellites offer in-orbit inspection and space situational awareness. How do you envision the deployment of your planned fleet enhancing global space security, and what key benefits will this bring to satellite operators in managing their assets?
A: I like to use analogies with what we already know here on Earth. Think of how a country protects its borders—it deploys patrols. Whether it’s on land, at sea, or in the air, patrols carry out surveillance and inspections. Surveillance is passive; they’re keeping an eye on what’s happening to detect potential threats. Inspection is more active—when something seems suspicious, they get closer for a better look.
It's the same concept in space. Orbit Guard satellites are like patrols. They’re equipped with cameras that can observe from a distance, providing surveillance over a section of orbit. They gather key data, which gives operators a sense of what's happening in that region. But when more detail is needed, Orbit Guard can move in closer to inspect specific assets—whether that’s checking if a satellite is malfunctioning or identifying the cause of an issue.
There’s certainly a defense aspect to this, but the real value is in providing satellite operators with information. With Orbit Guard, operators can make informed decisions based on real-time data from space. It's not just about defense—Orbit Guard offers valuable insights for commercial operators too.
Most of our projects are like this—they can serve both commercial and defense purposes. For instance, geostationary orbit (GEO) is about 80% commercial. Our first missions will be fully commercial, where we’ll be inspecting satellites for private operators. But yes, down the line, there will likely be defense applications as well. Defense agencies need this kind of capability too.
Q: Infinite Orbits has partnered with companies like Telespazio and other European institutions for various missions. How important are these partnerships in advancing your in-orbit servicing capabilities, and are there any new collaborations or projects on the horizon that will expand your service offerings?
A: Oh, there are definitely a lot of exciting things happening, but I can't reveal everything just yet! What I can say is that space is incredibly challenging—it's tough, and anyone working in this sector has to stay humble because you simply can't do anything alone.
Space has always been a domain of collaboration, even in the face of geopolitical tension. Take the Cold War, for instance—despite the rivalry between the USSR and the USA, they still collaborated on space projects. Today, even with a complex geopolitical landscape, we have initiatives like the International Space Station, which is a testament to the power of collaboration. Everyone needs each other in this industry.
For us, partnerships are absolutely essential. Especially as a startup, we know we can't master everything. Take Telespazio, for example—they’re known for their expertise in ground segment operations, while we focus more on space segment and satellite operations. They have the infrastructure, the antennas, the people, the software, the experience. Collaborating with them allows us to complement each other’s strengths.
We also work with R&D institutions, customers, competitors, and suppliers. Collaboration is not just something nice to mention in an interview—it’s a fundamental part of how we operate. Without it, a company like Infinite Orbits wouldn't have been able to achieve what we have, like being the first to send nanosatellites to geostationary orbit. That's a huge milestone for us, and we got there by being open to sharing know-how, taking risks, and working with others.
The ability to collaborate across countries, continents, and sectors is essential. Sure, there's competition—that's a given. But your ability to navigate this evolving environment and form smart partnerships is key. You can’t survive in this industry without it.
Even with things like launching satellites, it's not just a transactional relationship where you pay and get a launch. There are new players, new technologies, and people taking risks. If you're smart and open to collaboration, you can achieve a lot more.
Q: As the Middle East continues to grow its presence in the space industry, what are Infinite Orbits' objectives and interests in this market? Are there specific opportunities or partnerships you're exploring with regional satellite operators or governments in the region?
A: We do have some ongoing interactions with clients and suppliers in the Middle East, so it's a region we're familiar with. We're also observing the growing interest you're describing, and it's gradually becoming a strategic focus for us.
What's exciting is that there are a lot of ambitious players in the Middle East who want to invest in space and be part of this emerging market. Historically, space was dominated by a handful of major nations—a sort of private club. But now, more regions, including the Middle East, are asking, "Why not us?" And that ambition is very clear.
While I can't say exactly how or in what form, we are committed to taking this market seriously. We're already exploring opportunities with our current partners in the region, and we aim to deepen our involvement and presence there as things evolve.