World's first commercial re-programmable satellite blasts into space

The Eutelsat Quantum, the world's first commercial fully re-programmable satellite, enables it to be repurposed over the course of its 15-year lifespan. — 123rf.com

The world's first commercial fully re-programmable satellite lifted off from French Guiana on Friday on board an Ariane 5 rocket, ushering in a new era of more flexible communications.

Unlike conventional models that are designed and "hard-wired" on Earth and cannot be repurposed once in orbit, the Eutelsat Quantum allows users to tailor the communications to their needs — almost in real-time.