New Commercial Space Company Launched: Swiss Space Systems [Video]

Swiss Space Systems, or S3, is another commercial space launch company that looks to become a leader in the niche for nano and small satellites with an airplane and shuttle based launch system. The company had its official launch event on March 13, 2013, where founder and CEO Pascal Jaussi presented the unique launching system of S3.

By using an A300 zero-g certified carrier aircraft and then launching a mounted shuttle directly into the stratosphere, with both vehicles fully reusable, only the space-going upper stage is expendable. This allows substantial cost savings when compared to a conventional launcher. Jaussi says the the launch cost will go below 10 million Swiss Francs (USD $11 million). The start of first test flights is already planned for 2017, which is only possible by using already developed, but until now shelved, technologies that are worth billions.

The company will also build a spaceport at their headquarter in Payerne, Switzerland.

S3 made a very viewable and nice 3D animated video clip available on YouTube, illustrating their launch system and satellite in-orbit delivery.

Swiss Space Systems Holding SA is a Swiss company founded in 2012 in Payerne. The objective of S3 as a group is to develop, manufacture, certify and operate suborbital spaceplanes for the deployment of small satellites up to 250 kg.

The company also talks about their vision to "democratize" space by allowing easier access: "Our vision is to be the world leader in in-orbit delivery of small satellites. Our mission is to give access to space. We want to make space accessible through fast and recurrent access opportunities facilitating particularly science and in-orbit delivery. Thanks to our innovative launching system based on assembling the best of proven technologies, we will be able to serve our clients with excellence at highly competitive costs. Our aim is to democratize access to space by enabling emerging markets, countries, universities and research institutes to do what has not been possible for them up to now: deploy their own satellites."