Australia-based Sky and Space Global has selected Virgin Galactic to launch up to 200 nano-communications satellites from 2018.

Virgin Galactic is developing commercial spacecraft and intends to provide suborbital spaceflights to space tourists, suborbital launches for space science missions, and orbital launches of small satellites.

To be launched using Virgin Galactic’s LauncherOne orbital launch vehicle, the satellite constellation will cover equatorial countries in Asia, South and Central America and Africa.

"This agreement is part of our long-term strategy of building Sky and Space Global’s nanosatellite communication system infrastructure and service."

Sky and Space Global CEO Meir Moalem said: "Virgin Galactic is a truly global company with significant resources and support and this agreement is the first step in what we believe will be a long-term relationship, and it provides Sky and Space Global a genuine and highly sought-after opportunity.

"It is expected to not only deliver substantial cost savings, due to LauncherOne’s ability to carry multiple nanosatellites simultaneously, but will enable us to bolster our bandwidth capacity as we launch further nanosatellites into orbit.

"This agreement is part of our long-term strategy of building Sky and Space Global’s nanosatellite communication system infrastructure and service."

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Sky and Space Global intends to develop a narrowband low-cost voice and data network through the provision of satellite services. Once built, the service will be sold to communications service providers, shipping companies and airliners.

Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said: "Sky and Space Global and its nanosatellite technology represent the innovative future of nanosatellite bandwidth communications.

"We have created LauncherOne in order to enable innovators and entrepreneurs to launch constellations of small satellites at commercially attractive process."

Sky and Space Global’s first three nano-satellites, known as the Three Diamonds, will be launched in the second quarter of next year aboard India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

Moalem added: "The Three Diamonds are the first commercial nanosatellites project that is managed and controlled according to strict European Space Agency standards for small satellites, which gives a high level of quality assurance."

It is reported that European satellite maker GomSpace is responsible for manufacturing the Three Diamonds.

Compared with traditional satellites, the nanosatellites are approximately 80% cheaper and weigh less than 10kg.