Open Cosmos bags €60m contract to deploy earth observation satellites for Greece
Open Cosmos has secured a €60 million contract to deploy an earth observation constellation of seven satellites which will supply daily high-resolution imagery to the Greek government.
The Oxfordshire firm will collaborate with the European Space Agency (ESA) on the project for the benefit of both Greek and European citizens at large.
It’s hoped the ‘OpenConstellation’ – set to be the largest shared infrastructure in space – will help improve public services such as the land registry, combat sea pollution, coordinate disaster response and boost agricultural efficiency.
Rafel Jorda Siquier, founder and CEO of Open Cosmos, said: “It’s an honour to be chosen for such a crucial program for Greece and I’m incredibly proud of the team’s achievement in securing this contract.
“We faced competition from some of the world’s leading players in the industry, and to win is a true testament to the hard work of everyone at Open Cosmos and the strength of our advanced satellite technology.
“Delivering this contract will position us at the forefront of satellite data providers, opening up further collaborations and growing the OpenConstellation.”
The seven satellites in the Greek constellation will gather data from a multisensor instrument suite in low earth orbit.
This includes very-high resolution optical multispectral and hyperspectral cameras, internet of things (IoT) and automatic identification system (AIS) receivers, and on-board AI.
The programme will complement existing ESA systems such as EU Copernicus, while being fully compatible with the Atlantic constellation.
Dimitris Papastergiou, Greek minister for digital governance, added: “Greece is making significant steps in space.
“By investing in both capacity-buying and capacity-building space programs, our aim is to stimulate local high-tech space industries, foster job creation, retain our skilled engineers and space experts in the country and attract additional talent.
“The development of cutting-edge satellite technology will cultivate a sustainable economic framework that integrates advanced science and technology sectors, bolstering long-term economic resilience in the country.”
