Launch of SpainSat NG-1, the first of Europe’s two most advanced military telecommunications satellites

After a delay caused the storm that hit the United States during the last week of January, the SpainSat NG 1 satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on January 29 at 20:34  (January 30, EST 2:34 CET), a milestone marking a crucial moment in Spain’s space history.

This satellite is part of SpainSat NG, an ambitious Hisdesat-led program that will provide secure communications services for the armed forces of Spain, the European Union, and NATO, with GMV playing a key role as the company in charge of the program’s ground segment.

Specifically, GMV is in charge of integrating all the systems that will manage the two SpainSat NG satellites from the ground. This integration will be carried out both at the main center in Hoyo de Manzanares and in the redundant center located at the National Institute for Aerospace Technology’s (INTA) Maspalomas Space Station. GMV’s responsibility includes the development and deployment of the control systems of the satellite and its payload, as well as supervision of the latter’s performance in its different bands (X, Ka, and UHF).

The systems provided by GMV will be equipped with the most advanced technologies available, with a special focus on the configuration and control of the telecommunications payload. This aspect is particularly challenging for software-defined satellites, such as SpainSat NG. The complexity of managing these payloads lies in their high capacity to adapt and reconfigure themselves, allowing for greater flexibility and operational efficiency. This advanced technology not only optimizes the performance and capacity of the satellites, but also ensures greater reliability and resistance to possible interference or failures, key aspects for the success of critical telecommunications missions.

The commissioning of the new ground segment is a major milestone in the launch of the SpainSat NG satellites. In this case, the technology needed on the ground is as important as the technology used in the satellite itself. That’s why Hisdesat turned to GMV, the leading ground segment supplier, to ensure the success of Europe’s most advanced satellites.