Unicorn Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Has your technology worked in orbit?
Yes, Alba Launch, Albapod (PocketQube dispenser) and Unicorn have all successfully launched and worked in orbit - Link to U2C success blog post
My payload is quite big, can I really fit it in your payload bay?
Our Unicorn ICD/PUG shows both volume and 3 typical configurations, Multi-board PCB stack, multiple radio SDR mission and optical. - ICD Link
There is almost a way to minituarise your payload fit in the Unicorn Payload way, we provided a guide to achieving this. - Article on minturising payloads coming soon.
I am a US satellite operator and I’ve heard PocketQubes can’t be tracked and the FCC won’t license because of this?
In July 2019 the FCC licensed the first two Unicorns to fly into orbit for a US based spacecraft operator. We would expect if applicants follow due process that future applications would be viewed in a similar manner.
All PocketQubes ever launched into orbit have been tracked daily since the first launch in 2013. At present there are over 16,000 PocketQube tles publicly available on space-track.org - PocketQube Tracking Article
Can Alba get me a launch?
Yes Alba has a successful track record launching PocketQubes on Albapod. We currently run an annual ride share for the PocketQube community. - link alba launch
I want to go to a different orbit on a different schedule, can you accommodate?
For a premium we can arrange a custom launch opportunity for Unicorn customers.
We can also sell customers an Albapod if they have their own launch opportunity.
What is your Manufacturing capacity?
Alba Orbital have invested heavily in manufacturing capability allowing us to meet your constellation requirements. Alba has internal capacity of producing 10 Unicorn-2 Flight Models in 2019, building on the two we orbited in 2020. We expect to increase this production rate by at least double every year, depending on customer demand. We have over 120m2 of facilities, with more than 40m2 of dedicated spacecraft manufacturing, assembly and testing all under one roof. - More manufacturing information
Can I come visit the Unicorn Factory?
If you are interested in choosing Unicorn for your upcoming mission, we would be happy to give you a tour of our state of the art satellite manufacturing facilities. Please get in touch contact@pocketqubeshop.com
What is your average time from signature to launch/beginning of ops?
12 Months, which is significantly faster than many of our competitors who typically take years to get to orbit - gantt chart coming soon
Can Unicorn make me money?
Yes, we can accommodate a number of different use cases. We wrote a blog for a IOT customer - Blog Business case coming soon
What is your pricing?
Scale as you raise. Unicorn pricing is transparent and dependable, whether you are buying your first spacecraft at the seed stage, or finalising the build out of your constellation pre-ipo. Alba is here for you all along your journey. - Unicorn Pricing
Can you help me with licensing my Unicorn?
Yes, Alba Orbital Deutschland UG, our Berlin office, works with DLR and BNETZA to handle spacecraft licensing! Spacecraft is a difficult challenge and we have built a strong relationship with our national licensing body and deployed our first Albaconnect ground station node to support customers looking for turnkey solutions.
Alba has submitted an initial filing with ITU to fly upto 20 Unicorn-2 satellites. These can be used alongside an Albaconnect subscription by customers to turbocharge the licensing process.
What about Ground stations and data back-haul, do you have an solutions to get data back from my Unicorn?
Yes, we have two options, the Alba Connect Network and your dedicated Alba Connect Ground Station. These are both turnkey solutions, so you don’t need to worry about configuring radios or choosing power amps. Alba Connect Network is a subscription service utilizing Alba managed stations offering minimal setup time and no upfront capex spends. A dedicated Alba Connect Ground Station allows you to have ownership of your ground asset, is rapidly deployable at a site of your choosing, and is fully autonomous, running off solar panels and batteries, back hauling data via a 4G modem.
How can I get in contact with you to chat about Unicorn?
Looking for more information on Unicorn-2? Please get in touch contact@pocketqubeshop.com