Astronomy:Atlantic Constellation

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Short description: European constellation of Earth observation satellites


Atlantic Constellation
ManufacturerOpen Cosmos
Country of origin23px European Space Agency
 European Union
 Spain
 Portugal
 United Kingdom
Applicationscoastal surveillance,
environmental management,
climate monitoring
Production
Built0
Launched0
Operational0
Maiden launch2026 (planned)

The Atlantic Constellation (Constelación Atlántica) is a future satellite constellation of Earth observation satellites under development by Spain and Portugal, funded by the European Union (EU)[1][2][3][4] and coordinated by the European Space Agency (ESA),[5] with additional contributions by the United Kingdom (UK), via the UK Space Agency.[6][7] The constellation, focused on coastal surveillance, environmental management, and climate monitoring,[8] will consist of high and very high resolution sub-spectral and multi-spectral Earth observation satellites[9] with revisit times of 24 hours, thrice shorter than Copernicus.[10] The project's first satellite (Atlantic Constellation Pathfinder) is expected to be launched by the UK Space Agency in 2026.[10]

Satellites

In 2025 and 2026, the Spanish company Satlantis launched two precursor satellites: Garai A and Gerai B named after Basque explorer Juan de Garai. The satellites are testing the multispectral instruments ISIM-90 and ISIM-170.[11][12]

Spain will contribute 11 of the Atlantic Constellation satellites. The contract to build the original eight was awarded to the UK-based Open Cosmos in October 2025. These satellites, expected to be delivered by 2027, will be equipped with high-resolution multispectral optical cameras, GNSS reflectometry receivers, AIS receivers, and Internet of Things connectivity.[8] The Spanish satellites will be named by students of Spanish primary and secondary schools.[13] In early 2026, Spanish government approved additional €325 million for development of three additional satellites as part of Atlantic Constellation expanded satellite programme ESCA+, bringing the Spanish contribution to 11.[14]

Portugal will contribute other eight satellites. The UK will launch its single satellite, also built by Open Cosmos, to the same orbital plane as three of the Portuguese spacecraft. This is expected to increase the revisit frequency for the first orbital plane by 33%.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2024-05-24). "ESA Awards Contracts for Spain’s Contribution to Atlantic Constellation" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-awards-contracts-for-spains-contribution-to-atlantic-constellation/. 
  2. ↑ Atalayar (2022-11-07). "Spain makes its way into ESA with Constelación Atlántica, Arrakihs and Spainsat NG" (in en). https://www.atalayar.com/en/articulo/new-technologies-innovation/spain-makes-its-way-esa-constelacion-atlantica-arrakihs-and-spainsat-ng/20221107120159158978.html. 
  3. ↑ "New Space Agenda Atlantic Constellation" (in en). https://www.newspaceportugal.org/en/atividades/atlantic-constellation. 
  4. ↑ Charoux, Valerie (2022-11-06). "Portugal’s Atlantic Constellation" (in en). https://www.portugalbusinessesnews.com/post/atlantic-constellation. 
  5. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2023-09-22). "Spain Partner with ESA to Build €80M Atlantic Constellation" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/spain-partner-with-esa-to-build-80m-euro-atlantic-constellation/. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Parsonson, Andrew (2023-11-22). "The UK to Contribute More Than £3M to the Atlantic Constellation" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/the-uk-to-contribute-more-than-3m-to-the-atlantic-constellation/. 
  7. ↑ "Space for Our Future: UK aims to join Atlantic Constellation with funding for new Earth observation satellite" (in en). https://www.gov.uk/government/news/space-for-our-future-uk-aims-to-join-atlantic-constellation-with-funding-for-new-earth-observation-satellite. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Parsonson, Andrew (2025-10-17). "Open Cosmos to Build Spanish Component of the Atlantic Constellation" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/open-cosmos-to-build-spanish-component-of-the-atlantic-constellation/. 
  9. ↑ "Atlantic Constellation" (in en). https://www.ceiia.com/news/atlantic-constellation. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Atlantic Constellation Pathfinder Satellite Mission Summary | CEOS Database". https://database.eohandbook.com/database/missionsummary.aspx?missionID=1454. 
  11. ↑ Sarah (2025-01-17). "GARAI A SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED" (in es). https://www.satlantis.com/garai-a-successfully-launched/. 
  12. ↑ InfoEspacial. "Satlantis pone en órbita el microsatélite Garai B, pieza clave en el desarrollo de la Constelación Atlántica" (in es). https://www.infoespacial.com/texto-diario/mostrar/5827332/satlantis-pone-orbita-microsatelite-garai-b-pieza-clave-desarrollo-constelacion-atlantica. 
  13. ↑ Aeroespacial, Actualidad (2025-11-07). "España invita a los estudiantes a nombrar los ocho satélites que aportará a la Constelación Atlántica" (in es). https://actualidadaeroespacial.com/espana-invita-a-los-estudiantes-a-nombrar-los-ocho-satelites-que-aportara-a-la-constelacion-atlantica/. 
  14. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2026-04-01). "Spain Approves €325 Million ESCA+ Expansion of Atlantic Constellation" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/spain-approves-e325-million-esca-expansion-of-atlantic-constellation/. 



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