Portugal launches six more satellites and strengthens national sovereignty and technological capability

Portugal today took another important step in consolidating its presence in space with the launch of six additional satellites: one Very High Resolution (VHR) optical satellite, one equipped with radar technology (SAR), and four for maritime communications.

Delivered under the NEW SPACE PORTUGAL Agenda, led by GEOSAT, these satellites continue the work and ambition of positioning Portugal as an emerging player in the European space sector, while also strengthening national sovereignty and technological capability, as well as boosting the domestic new space economy.

Two of these satellites – the SAR satellite of the Portuguese Air Force (FAP) and CEiiA’s VHRLight NextGen – will contribute to enhancing Earth observation and dual-use (civil and military) capabilities within Portugal’s largest space project to date: the Atlantic Constellation. The former results from a partnership agreement between the FAP and ICEYE, and the latter from CEiiA in partnership with Satellogic, developed with the collaboration of N3O.

While the SAR satellite will provide Portugal with the ability to observe the Earth in all weather conditions, day and night, ensuring continuous and reliable monitoring, the VHRLight NextGen will enable the capture of images of the Earth’s surface with a resolution of 70 cm per pixel, using state-of-the-art multispectral technology.

Also onboard the Transporter-16 mission were four VDES CubeSat satellites integrated in Portugal by LusoSpace, developed in partnership with AAC Clyde Space, for the Lusíada Constellation. These satellites, also funded under the New Space Portugal Agenda, are focused on monitoring and strengthening communications in the maritime domain.