Case Study: SpaceQuest achieves a rapid, flight-validated AIS satellite payload in six weeks with Altium

Spacequest uses Altium to Develop Game Changer Satellite Payload

SpaceQuest, a leader in microsatellite development and an early pioneer in satellite AIS data services, faced an extreme time pressure when it decided late in the AprizeSat-3 program to integrate an updated experimental AIS collection payload. With a distributed design team, legacy tool chains, and only six weeks before the satellite had to ship for launch, delivering a new flight‑grade electronic board in time was a major technical and schedule challenge.

By adopting Altium Designer, SpaceQuest consolidated schematics, ran electrical and mechanical checks, and used 3D PCB visualization and automated reporting to spin a flight prototype in just over one week, complete component population, and finish environmental testing. The payload was integrated on time, performed flawlessly on orbit, and validated a new business line; SpaceQuest has since standardized on Altium across its board development pipeline, realizing time savings, fewer errors, lighter enclosures, and improved documentation and BOM control.

SpaceQuest

Mark Kanawati

Vice President