Portugal reinforces its presence in space with the launch of new satellites
LusoSpace makes history with the launch of Portugal's first commercial satellite, and the University of Minho launches its second national CubeSat.
Portugal’s first commercial satellite, PoSat-2, will be launched into space this Tuesday, January 14th, aboard SpaceX’s Falcon9. The satellite, named in honour of PoSat-1, launched in 1993, will be accompanied by PROMETHEUS-1, developed by students from the University of Minho. Together with the start of the operationalisation of the Atlantic Constellation, Portugal sees its role as a major player in the new space economy strengthened, integrating capabilities for building, operating and marketing satellites and space services.
PoSAT-2 will pioneer the ATON constellation, which is expected to place 12 satellites in orbit by 2026 to provide maritime communication services. The project began with the support of the Portuguese Space Agency through the InCubed programme promoted by the European Space Agency (ESA), which provided funding for the first feasibility study. Work then continued as part of the New Space Portugal Agenda, funded by the PRR.
According to LusoSpace, this project includes the introduction of VDES (VHF Data Exchange System) technology in a satellite constellation. This technology allows two-way communication between land and ships, faster alerts, and encrypted messages, which has been unheard of until now. The benefits of the ATON constellation led to collaboration with the Navy to complement the naval communication system. After PoSat-2, the remaining satellites will be put into orbit at two separate times: in the last quarter of 2025 and at the beginning of 2026.
PROMETHEUS-1, by contrast, is a nanosatellite the size of a Rubik’s cube, just five centimetres wide and tall and weighing less than 250 grams. Developed by aerospace engineering students from the University of Minho, the satellite will remain in orbit at 500 kilometres and is equipped with battery management systems, guidance, microcontrollers, and a camera. This project, which is part of the CMU Portugal Programme and funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology, had the support of Carnegie Mellon University (USA) and the Higher Technical Institute. Apart from serving as a case study for Aerospace Engineering bachelor’s and master’s programmes launched three years ago, PROMETHEUS-1 will contribute to technological validations in orbit.
“This moment marks an important milestone in Portugal’s space journey, adding new capabilities not only in terms of building new satellites but also new operational services, addressing the entire value chain, from production to operation and commercialisation, thus affirming the country as a relevant player in the new space economy,” says Ricardo Conde, President of the Portuguese Space Agency. “The launch of Portugal’s first commercial satellite, alongside the continuation of technological development by our academia, such as PROMETHEUS, demonstrates the dynamism of the national space ecosystem and the practical application of our talent, which in just a few years has shown it is able of building capabilities in this sector,” he said, also highlighting the importance of the start of the operationalisation of the Atlantic constellation as another critical milestone with international significance.
The launch of Falcon9 also marks the start of the operationalisation of the Atlantic Constellation, which kicks off with the launch of GEOSAT3. This satellite, developed by Spain’s SATLANTIS and which will be integrated into GEOSAT’s operation, is equipped with visible and infrared multispectral sensors, enabling applications such as fire detection and methane emissions monitoring. In October, at the signing of the agreement between GEOSAT/CeiiA and SATLANTIS, Francisco Vilhena da Cunha, CEO of GEOSAT, stated that GEOSAT-3 accelerates the development of the Atlantic Constellation, paving the way for new capabilities in the market, preparing the launch of advanced optical satellites to meet the needs of temporal and space resolution.
Finally, the two satellites from FOSSA System, the Spanish start-up that marks the opening of a research and development centre in Portugal this Tuesday should also be mentioned. FOSSA Systems will put three 3U-class satellites into orbit to validate technologies and offer global IoT connectivity based on LoRa (Long Range), an extended-range, low-power wireless communication technology.
The FOSSA team in Portugal consists of six specialised engineers who developed software for the land segment and IoT management tools, contributing to the company’s growth. With plans to double the team by 2025, the Oeiras Centre is strategically developing space solutions and global connectivity, reinforcing Portugal’s position in the space economy.
