SWISSto12, one of the world’s fastest-growing aerospace companies and a leading manufacturer of advanced satellite systems and radio frequency products, has announced new capabilities details regarding its Command-and-Control Center, based in Athens, Georgia, USA. The facility provides the technical infrastructure, software, and operational processes required to manage launch, orbit raising, and in-orbit testing for SWISSto12’s geostationary satellite, HummingSat, before customer handover. In the future, the company plans to further strengthen these capabilities with a redundant Mission Control Capability in Europe.
Since its opening, the Georgia-based center has been equipped with advanced mission control systems designed to support reliable and secure operations. Teams at the facility have completed the integration of the company’s command and control software, developed to meet high standards of redundancy, resilience, and continuous availability. This platform will form the operational backbone for HummingSat missions as they progress toward launch.
“Our Command-and-Control Center is the heart of our HummingSat operations,” said Joe Zaborek, Head of HummingSat Ground Products at SWISSto12. “The integration of digital twin technology allows us to simulate every phase of the mission on the ground, rehearse responses to anomalies, and ensure the satellite performs exactly as expected – giving both our team and customers confidence during deployment.”
A key capability of the center is its digital twin environment, which has created a complete virtual model of HummingSat. This system allows operators to simulate mission activities, verify command sequences, and test responses to off-nominal events before they occur in orbit. The digital twin remains synchronized with each spacecraft throughout its operational life, providing continuous insight into system performance and enabling proactive mission management.
The facility will support all-electric orbit raising (EOR), a process using ionized xenon atoms for more efficient fuel usage – a more effective approach for long-term station-keeping operations compared to chemical propulsion. The center ensures SWISSto12’s HummingSat customers will have sovereignty over their satellite operations through ownership and operational control, with mission rehearsals and anomaly simulations enabling clients to monitor and operate their satellites in real time, maintaining autonomy over mission-critical decisions. The system’s real-time telemetry monitoring gives customers confidence that they can intervene if needed, while still benefiting from SWISSto12’s operational and technical expertise. Located near major research universities, the Georgia Center supports growth and collaboration with local engineering talent. The facility will continue to expand its operational capacity as the company prepares for the first HummingSat deployments in 2027.
The center will serve as the operational brain for the launch and orbit raising of SWISSto12’s innovative geostationary small satellite, HummingSat. Roughly the size of an industrial washing machine, and weighing approximately 1,000 kilograms, HummingSat is significantly smaller and more cost-efficient than conventional geostationary satellites. Its compact form factor supports cost-effective production and ride-share launch opportunities. SWISSto12’s proprietary, space-qualified additive manufacturing technology and advanced RF systems further enhance payload performance, streamline production, and reduce both manufacturing time and cost.
“From design to operations, our goal is to make advanced satellite capability accessible and sovereign for our customers,” said Emile de Rijk, CEO of SWISSto12. “Our mission control center strengthens that vision by giving our customers the infrastructure and expertise they need to support them in managing their own missions confidently and independently.”
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