Open Cosmos to Develop Spanish Segment of the Atlantic Constellation
Open Cosmos has been selected to lead the Spanish segment of the Atlantic Constellation, an Earth Observation initiative undertaken by Portugal and Spain, which aims to build a 16-satellite Earth observation constellation for coastal surveillance, environmental management, and climate monitoring. Open Cosmos announced on October 16th that its selection was made by both the Spanish Space Agency (AEE) and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Open Cosmos maintains offices in Spain, Portugal, and Greece. The firm is responsible for designing and constructing eight microsatellites, each equipped with a high-resolution multispectral optical camera, a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) reflectometry sensor, an AIS (Automatic Identification System) receiver, and IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity. Production will take place at Open Cosmos’s Barcelona facilities, with delivery of satellites scheduled for 2027. Open Cosmos is collaborating with Satlantis, the Institute of Space Sciences, Alén Space, and FOSSA Systems, which will be supplying instrumentation for the initiative.
The Atlantic Constellation comprises a collaborative network of Earth Observation satellites, chiefly supported by Spain and Portugal, to deliver high-frequency data essential for environmental monitoring, climate management, and disaster response. Previously, the UK Space Agency contracted Open Cosmos to develop a U.K. pathfinder satellite for this constellation, while Iceye is currently building a satellite for Portugal’s contribution. Open Cosmos also received a €60 million contract from the Greek government in June 2024 to build a seven-satellite Earth observation constellation.
Rafel Jordà, CEO and founder of Open Cosmos, stated, “Open Cosmos is delivering some of the most ambitious constellations in Europe, and being awarded this project in Spain is not only personally significant as a Spaniard but also pivotal to our growth as a pan-European organization. Spain boasts one of the world’s most dynamic space ecosystems, and we are honored to participate in this strategic flagship project.”