Organization:Hellenic Space Center
 Official logo | |
| Space agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 9 August 2019 |
| Preceding space agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Ministry of Digital Governance |
| Headquarters | 178 Kifisias Ave, 15231,Chalandri, Greece see [Personnel numbers] |
| Annual budget | €1,000,000 (2024) see [Financial data] |
| Space agency executives |
|
| Parent department | Minister of Digital Governance
|
| Website | https://hsc.gov.gr/
|
The Hellenic Space Center (HSC) is a public benefit organization operating as a Legal Entity under Private Law of a non-profit nature. It belongs to the General Government Sector and the broader Public Sector. It is responsible for shaping and implementing Greece's space policy, promoting the Greek space industry, while also managing national projects related to space technologies. It is headquartered in Athens, operates under the Ministry of Digital Governance and is supervised by the Minister of that ministry. It replaced the Hellenic Space Agency, with the transfer of all ELDO projects and programs to the newly established HSC.[1]
In 2025, Dr. Emmanouil Rammos was appointed President of HSC[2], replacing Professor of Space Physics at the University of Athens, Ioannis Daglis.
Mission and activities
The purpose of HSC is the planning and coordination of the national space strategy, through the formulation of strategic proposals that define objectives and areas of cooperation between the Public Sector, the Private Sector, as well as the academic and research community.[1]
HSC manages national space programs and projects related to scientific research, technology, telecommunications, agriculture, transport, e-government, and trade, among others. Particular emphasis is placed on remote sensing and the analysis of satellite data, with applications in environmental, agricultural and economic sectors.[1]
At the same time, the Center promotes the use of space technologies and services, strengthening cooperation with European and international bodies. It also contributes to the experimental or commercial exploitation of space infrastructures and public rights, through the management of satellite services, resources and assets, as well as supporting the design of satellites, satellite systems and related equipment.[1]
The Center acts as coordinator and representative of Greece in European and international space organizations and initiatives, aiming to maximize the return of the country's participation in space programs. In addition, it provides advisory support to the state on issues of space policy, management of public rights and obligations in space, as well as the registration and evaluation of space objects.[1]
Through its overall activity, HSC strengthens the development of the space sector in Greece, promotes the effective utilization of space technologies and supports the development of the Greek space industry.[1]
Collaborations and international presence
HSC collaborates with public and private bodies, as well as European and international space organizations, for the development and implementation of space programs.[1]
It collaborates with the Ministry of National Defence in cases where space programs have a national security dimension, maintaining the Ministry's operational autonomy in relevant decisions. In this context, on 26 July 2024, the Ministry of Digital Governance issued a Request For Information (RFI) for the development and operation of an integrated Telecommunications Satellite System (MILSATCOM), primarily aimed at covering the needs of the Ministry of National Defence.[3][4][5]
It also participates in initiatives of the European Space Agency, promoting Greece's participation in international space programs.[1]
According to the Center, systematic contacts are maintained with the Space Agencies of Japan, Italy, France, Argentina, Israel, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.[6]
In 2022, HSC coordinated and organized locally, in cooperation with other bodies, the 44th Scientific Assembly of COSPAR 2022. This is an international scientific conference that took place in Athens at the Athens International Conference Centre between 16 and 22 July 2022.[7][8]
On 3 October 2023, during the 74th International Astronautical Congress in Baku, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between HSC and the Italian Space Agency, while on 19 December 2023 a corresponding agreement was signed with the Spanish Space Agency. Preparatory actions had also been carried out for the signing of similar memoranda with the Space Agencies of Armenia and Egypt.[6][9]
On 28 November 2024, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed with the Egyptian Space Agency in Cairo.[10]
On 16 October 2024, HSC and the Australian research center "SmartSat CRC" signed a Memorandum of Cooperation during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan.[11]
Programs
Since late 2022, the Center has participated in or coordinated a variety of programs.[6]
Earth Observation Satellite Mission Programming Service
Since late 2022, through funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility of ECOFIN with a budget of €3,276,000, the sub-program "Earth Observation Satellite Mission Programming Service" is being implemented by HSC. It includes 4 subprojects with the main objective of providing access for the Public Sector to satellite Earth observation data through the development of a Geoinformation System based on cloud computing technologies. Thus, needs related to cadastre are covered, as well as needs for emergency situations such as natural disasters and border surveillance.[6]
On 23 October 2023, HSC announced a call for tenders within the framework of the above program.[12] The project, with a budget of €434,000[lower-alpha 1], has a duration of 2 years. It is divided into 6 implementation phases and its primary objective is the automation and centralization of procedures for the distribution of geospatial satellite data to public services of the Integrated Geoinformation System, as well as the ability to store and manage them.[13]
National Microsatellite Program
In collaboration with the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) of the School of Electrical Engineers and Computer Engineers of the National Technical University of Athens, a study is being carried out for the design, implementation and viability of a system of small Earth observation satellites, with a budget of €60,000,000, funded by the "Greece 2.0 National Recovery and Resilience Plan". Since September 2023, following a decision of the General Secretary for Telecommunications and Post, the National Microsatellite Program was redesigned under the supervision of the Ministry of Digital Governance. The main objective of the program is to cover the needs of the Greek Public Sector in Earth observation, through thermal imaging and SAR.[6][14]
Greek Cubesats In-Orbit Validation Projects
The Greek Cubesat Program, with the official English title "Greek Cubesats In-Orbit Validation Projects", concerns the implementation of approved and funded proposals for placing 13 cubesats into orbit, with the main objective of certifying new technologies of Greek design, with the future goal of launching operational Greek cubesats into Low Earth orbit. The program involves organizations and companies funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility.[6][15]
Since June 2023, seven cubesat missions have been identified, developed by small and medium-sized enterprises and universities in Greece, with support from ESA through grants from the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRF).[16]
The agreement for the construction and launch of the cubesat constellation was signed on 2 July 2024 between the European Space Agency and the company Open Cosmos, in the presence of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Digital Governance and the General Secretary for Telecommunications and Post.[17]
According to the Ministry of Digital Governance:
Within this framework, the seven microsatellites will be equipped with optical observation instruments [...]. In addition, as they are expected to be integrated into cooperative satellite constellations, their operational capacity will be multiplied, with the possibility of exclusive use of 20 to 24 satellites when they pass over our country and revisit times of approximately every three hours. The images collected will allow observation at a resolution from 1 meter to 3 meters. They will operate complementarily to available images of the Copernicus system (10 m resolution) and to very high-resolution satellite tasking services (30–50 cm) already implemented at HSC. In this way, the country will sufficiently and autonomously cover the entire range of Earth Observation and Remote Sensing needs.
These missions are scheduled to be launched in the 4th quarter (October–December) of 2025 according to ESA,[16][18] while the Ministry of Digital Governance referred to launches "within 2026".[17]
The seven missions will serve the fields of Earth Observation, communications security and maritime monitoring.[15][17][18]
| Mission[16] | Organizations[15][16] | Number of satellites[16] | CubeSat size[16] | Purpose[16] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phasma | Libre Space Foundation | 2 | 3U | Detection of radio-frequency signals and monitoring for improved space situational awareness. |
| OptiSat | Planetek Hellas | 1 | 6U | Optical Earth observation, secure communications with autonomous decision-making capability through Artificial intelligence and Machine learning. Cloud computing technologies. |
| PeakSat | Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Prisma Electronics SA | 1 | 3U | Laser-optical communication links with ground stations in Greece. |
| MICE-1 | Prisma Electronics SA, Democritus University of Thrace | 1 | 3U | Maritime monitoring through reception of AIS signals and Internet of Things (IoT) communication. |
| DUTHSat-2 | Democritus University of Thrace, Athena Research Center, Space Asics, Prisma Electronics SA | 1 | 6U | Detection of oil spills and monitoring of soil moisture through remote sensing with visible and near-infrared images. |
| ERMIS | National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University of Patras, University of the Aegean, National Observatory of Athens, OQ Hellas | 3 |
|
Support for IoT applications, inter-satellite communications, hyperspectral imaging for precision agriculture and optical telecommunications. |
| Hellenic Space Dawn/EMTech | EM Tech Space, Integrated Systems Development, Heron Engineering, Leo Space Photonics, Geosystems Hellas | 2 | 8U | Validation of onboard data processing hardware, Earth observation and demonstration of secure optical telecommunications and inter-satellite links. |
Organizational Structure
The Hellenic Space Center is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of 9 members:
- President: appointed by the Ministry of Digital Governance,
- Vice-President: appointed by the Minister of Digital Governance,
- 7 members: representatives of public and private research organizations, universities, and industry stakeholders.[19]
The Board supervises the execution of strategic programs, approves budgets, and oversees collaborations with the European Space Agency and other international organizations.
Structure
Organization
The organization of ELKED is structured as follows:
Directorate of Administrative and Financial Support
- Department of Administration and Human Resources
- Department of Finance and Accounting
Directorate of Research and Technological Development
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors (B.D.) is the governing body of the Center with a five-year term and consists of seven members. It is responsible for managing the property, administration, and representation as well as other activities of ELKED. It meets at least 12 times per year.
| Position | Name | Term |
|---|---|---|
| President | Emmanouil Rammos | March 2025 - present |
| CEO | Nikos Sergis | 2020 - present |
| Member | Giorgos Nounesis | 2020 - March 2025 |
| Konstantinos Synolakis | March 2025 - present | |
| Member | Ioannis A. Dangklís | March 2025 - present |
| Athina Kousteni | March 2025 - present | |
| Stamatios Krimizis | March 2025 - present | |
| Konstantinos Mavrokordatos | March 2025 - present |
See Also
Notes
- ↑ The project value before taxation (VAT) is significantly reduced to €350,000.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 (PDF)Government Gazette of the Hellenic Republic (National Printing House) A' (134): 3348-3351. 2019-08-09. https://search.et.gr/el/fek/?fekId=585998. Retrieved 2025-02-09.
- ↑ Capital.gr. "Hellenic Space Center: Emmanouil Rammos appointed new President" (in el). https://www.capital.gr/epikairotita/3908261/elliniko-kentro-diastimatos-neos-proedros-o-emmanouil-rammos/.
- ↑ "RFI for Greek Telecommunications Satellite System – Hellenic Space Center" (in el). https://hsc.gov.gr/rfi_satcom_gre/.
- ↑ "Space | Ministry of Digital Governance" (in el). Ministry of Digital Governance. 2024-01-02. https://mindigital.gr/space.
- ↑ "Request for Information (RFI): Outline concept for end-to-end MILSATCOM solutions in response to national needs." (in en) (PDF). 2024-07-16. https://mindigital.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024_RFI_MILSATCOM.pdf.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "HSC Annual Report 2023" (in el) (PDF). 2023. https://hsc.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Απολογισμός-Πεπραγμένων-ΕΛΚΕΔ-2023.pdf.
- ↑ "COSPAR 2022 - 44th Scientific Assembly - 16-24 July 2022, Athens, Greece" (in en). https://www.cosparathens2022.org/.
- ↑ "Join the World's Leading Space Scientists at COSPAR Athens 2022, 16-24 July 2022: Media Registration Open" (in en) (PDF). 2022-05-17. https://cosparhq.cnes.fr/assets/uploads/2022/05/Press_Release_COSPAR-44th-Scientific-Assembly.pdf.
- ↑ "HSC-ASI Memorandum – Hellenic Space Center" (in en-GB). https://hsc.gov.gr/en/hsc-asi-memorandum/.
- ↑ "Signing of Memorandum of Cooperation with the Egyptian Space Agency – Hellenic Space Center" (in el). https://hsc.gov.gr/υπογραφή-μνημονίου-συνεργασίας-με-τη/.
- ↑ "Signing of Memorandum of Cooperation with SmartSat CRC – Hellenic Space Center" (in el). https://hsc.gov.gr/υπογραφή-μνημόνιου-συνεργασίας-με-το/.
- ↑ "Declaration of an Open International Tender for "Cloud-based Geoinformatics System Service"" (in en-GB). 2023-10-23. https://hsc.gov.gr/en/declaration-of-an-open-international-tender-for-cloud-based-geoinformatics-system-service/.
- ↑ Stathopoulou, Eleni (2023-10-23). "Error: no
|title=specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in el). https://hsc.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/announcement_of_tender_for_geoinformatics.pdf. - ↑ Nikolopoulos, Nikos (2023-12-22). "Space in Greece" (in el). https://www.astronio.gr/episkopisi-diastimikis-ellada/.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Delevegos, Dimitris (2023-06-22). "13 Greek microsatellites will be ready in 2024" (in el). https://www.kathimerini.gr/economy/562483261/to-2024-tha-einai-etoimoi-13-ellinikoi-mikrodoryforoi/.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 "European Space Agency works with Greek Ministry of Digital Governance for secure and resilient connectivity" (in en). 2024-09-19. https://connectivity.esa.int/news/european-space-agency-works-greek-ministry-digital-governance-secure-and-resilient-connectivity.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Greece acquires 7 Earth observation microsatellites by 2026" (in el). 2024-07-02. https://mindigital.gr/archives/6282.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Recovery and Resilience Facility - First modification to the Operational arrangements between the European Commission and Greece" (in en). 2024. pp. 77, 78, 343, 427. https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/df7c19e7-dda9-41a0-9946-99bb1030afeb_en?filename=C_2024_4160_1_EN_annexe_acte_autonome_cp_part1_v2_for%20publication.pdf.
- ↑ "Governance" (in en). https://hsc.gov.gr/en/governance/.
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