Our affiliate Satlantis, a specialist in advanced Earth observation technologies, successfully launches its 7th mission and 4th full-solution satellite. This microsatellite, designed for advanced applications, will mark the beginning of the Atlantic Constellation.
Garai A, the new microsatellite from Satlantis, a company partially owned by Enagás, was successfully launched on January 15 aboard the Transporter-12 mission on a Falcon 9 rocket. This milestone marks the beginning of the Atlantic Constellation, an ambitious project developed in collaboration with Ceiia and Geosat under the Iberian Space Partnership, aimed at enhancing very high-resolution Earth observation capabilities.
This is Satlantis’ seventh launch and the company’s fourth full-solution satellite. Garai A has been deployed into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500-550 kilometers, from where it will provide unprecedented Earth monitoring capabilities thanks to its two advanced optical instruments, iSIM-90 and iSIM-170. These sensors capture images in visible, infrared, SWIR, and polarimetry channels, while also incorporating video functionalities and high agility for more dynamic and precise observation.
Technology for sustainability and energy transition
The launch of Garai A represents a significant advancement in the application of space technologies for sustainability. Thanks to its onboard data fusion capability, the satellite increases territorial observation capacity tenfold, enabling the development of key applications such as:
- Monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to more accurate measurement and reduction of emissions
- Detecting natural disasters and wildfires, enabling a rapid and effective response to environmental emergencies
- Advanced environmental analysis, essential for the sustainable management of natural resources
This milestone reinforces Enagás’ commitment to innovation and technology as drivers of energy transition and decarbonization. Investing in cutting-edge solutions like Garai A demonstrates the company’s dedication to developing new tools to improve energy efficiency and environmental protection.
A strategic collaboration for European leadership in space
Garai A is the result of a collaboration between Spain and Portugal through the Iberian Space Partnership, an agreement recently renewed at the XXXV Luso-Spanish Summit. According to Francisco Vilhena da Cunha, CEO of Geosat, “Garai A is the precursor of a constellation of high-resolution satellites with frequent revisit times, strengthening Europe’s technological autonomy in the aerospace sector.”
The satellite’s name, Garai A, pays tribute to the Basque explorer Juan de Garai, reinforcing Satlantis’ connection to innovation and tradition. With a lifespan of over five years, this launch paves the way for the expansion of the constellation with a new satellite scheduled for September 2025.
With this achievement, Enagás and Satlantis solidify their role in the space industry, demonstrating that the combination of innovation, sustainability, and strategic collaboration is key to addressing future challenges.
We invite you to learn more about Satlantis on their website.
