Swiss Space Systems
Swiss startup that aimed to launch satellites from an Airbus A300.
Swiss Space Systems (S3) was a Swiss aerospace company founded in 2012 by pilot and engineer Pascal Jaussi, with astronaut Claude Nicollier also joining. Based in Payerne, Switzerland, near Payerne Air Base, the company planned to provide orbital launches of small satellites and crewed sub-orbital spaceflights using a suborbital spaceplane launched from an Airbus A300. The company aimed to reduce launch costs through reusable spacecraft and lower fuel consumption, but became heavily indebted and was declared bankrupt on 14 December 2016.
- founded
- 2012
- dissolved
- 14 December 2016
- field
- Aerospace
- nationality
- Swiss
- known_for
- Planned air-launched suborbital spaceplane SOAR for small satellite launches and supersonic intercontinental flights
Lore & Background
Swiss Space Systems (S3) was inaugurated on 13 March 2013 at Payerne Airport. Initial plans called for a spaceport by 2015 and test launches by 2015 (Airbus) and 2017 (shuttle). The company planned to charge CHF 10 million (US$10.5 million) per launch for uncrewed suborbital spaceplanes carrying satellites up to 250 kg. Partners included the European Space Agency, Dassault Aviation, and the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics. S3 also hoped to develop a crewed version for supersonic intercontinental flights, with CEO Pascal Jaussi stating they wanted to establish a new mode of air travel allowing spaceports on different continents to be reached in an hour.
Reader's Guide
Swiss Space Systems represented an ambitious attempt to disrupt small satellite launch and high-speed air travel using air-launch technology. Its concept of launching a suborbital spaceplane from an Airbus A300, which would then release a disposable third stage, aimed to reduce costs through reusability and lower fuel consumption. The company secured partnerships with major aerospace entities and planned spaceports in Switzerland, Malaysia, Morocco, North America, and the Canary Islands. However, financial troubles emerged, with bailiffs collecting 3–4 million Swiss francs in 2015–2016. The company's bankruptcy in December 2016 followed a controversial incident where CEO Pascal Jaussi was attacked, with later reports suggesting he may have staged it. S3's failure highlights the high risk and capital intensity of private space ventures, though its air-launch concept influenced later small-launch discussions.
Did You Know?
- Swiss Space Systems planned to launch its suborbital spaceplane from an Airbus A300 to give the spacecraft more initial speed and altitude.
- As of March 2013, the company planned to charge CHF 10 million (US$10.5 million) per launch for satellites up to 250 kg.
- In 2016, Swiss Space Systems asked to delay bankruptcy after expecting funds from Singapore bank Axios Credit, but Singapore authorities declared Axios was not a licensed bank.
- CEO Pascal Jaussi was abducted, beaten, and burned in August 2016; in January 2017, it was reported he might have staged the attack.
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