CEiiA, Telespazio Iberica target satellite federation

Portugal’s CEiiA and Telespazio Iberica have signed a letter of intent to build a strategic cooperation framework for the Iberian space ecosystem, with a longer-term goal of creating a federation of satellite constellations across several countries. The partners say it could help give Europe greater space sovereignty through interoperable national capabilities.

The agreement was signed at Telespazio’s Fucino space centre in Italy. Emir Sirage, a director in CEiiA’s space area, told ECO/eRadar the group is working on a step-by-step model linking Portugal’s work on the Atlantic Constellation with Spanish and Italian projects, including future constellations such as Leonardo. He said the cooperation also strengthens ongoing work on the ground segment for the Canary Islands Constellation.

Telespazio Iberica won a contract worth more than €20 million this year to develop the Canary Islands Constellation, the first Earth observation system launched by a Spanish autonomous community, covering both the ground segment and a four-satellite constellation. Carlos Fernández de la Peña, chief executive of Telespazio Iberica, told ECO/eRadar the company is in talks to use CEiiA components in the Canary Islands ground segment and said that integration is close to being finalised.

The partnership also extends to a bid for the European Commission’s future Earth Observation Government Service (EOGS). Sirage said CEiiA is already working with Telespazio on that proposal, while Fernández de la Peña said the architectural tender was submitted a few weeks ago and a decision may come within weeks. In Italy, Leonardo, which owns 67% of Telespazio, plans to launch the Leonardo Constellation in 2028 or 2029, with around 20 satellites and €500 million in investment.

Sirage said the broader aim is to align national space capabilities with what he described as Europe’s vision for a “European Space Shield”, in which the space component would be central. According to the executives, the cooperation is intended to position CEiiA and Telespazio for joint opportunities in the Iberian Peninsula, southern Europe and potentially other countries in the group.

Originally published at Eco.pt