SES Advances Satellite Manufacturing Facility in Luxembourg
SES, a space solutions company, has commenced construction of a new satellite manufacturing facility in Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg, marking a major milestone in the company’s vertical integration and business model evolution. The facility will enhance SES’ ability to design, develop and manufacture critical satellite technologies, accelerating the deployment of next-generation satellite networks and secure communications solutions. It will also help create a hub for innovation and enable SES partners and ecosystem with opportunities.
The new facility in Kockelscheuer is at the center of Luxembourg’s effort to build and scale a dedicated Space Campus to stimulate New Space companies and industrial collaboration, and serve as a center for engineering, testing, manufacturing and assembly, accelerating development of future satellite systems such as SES’ meoSphere. Construction of the new site also reinforces Luxembourg’s competitiveness and attractiveness for highly skilled technology professionals, creating a platform for broader European and global space innovation.
“SES’ new manufacturing facility is not just an investment in the future, but a bold affirmation of Luxembourg’s leadership in the rapidly evolving space sector. Together with our upcoming Space Campus, this site will serve as a catalyst for innovation, developing industrial capabilities that strengthen Luxembourg’s and Europe’s strategic autonomy, hand in hand with trusted partners,” said the Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden.
“This state-of-the-art facility is a landmark moment for SES and for Luxembourg’s space sector. Our ambition is to create a world-class center for advanced space systems development, manufacturing, and engineering excellence that enables faster development cycles, greater innovation and more efficient delivery of next-generation multi-orbit solutions to our customers,” said Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES. “Today’s milestone builds on the progress we’ve already made with our pilot line and R&D facility, advancing our vision for a more agile, resilient and competitive space business.”
Expected to open in 2028 and developed in collaboration with project partners CDCL Group and POUDRERIE de LUXEMBOURG (ParcLuxite), the new 16,000m² facility will include advanced engineering, manufacturing and testing facilities, office space and supporting infrastructure, with project CapEx covered under SES’ CapEx guidance. Building on SES’ leadership in medium Earth orbit (MEO) and the success of the second-generation O3b mPOWER program, the facility will support the development of SES’ next-generation MEO network, meoSphere, and contribute to Europe’s IRIS² program through payload development and satellite assembly, integration and testing.
