13 Feb 2026

The European Space Agency (ESA) is supporting an extensive test campaign for optical laser terminals orchestrated by a broad coalition of Greek aerospace and academic partners under the Greek Connectivity Programme. Launching with four CubeSat missions in the first half of 2026, this campaign will aim to validate next-generation laser communication terminals in support of Greece’s expanding Connectivity and Secure Communications Programme.

The missions, operated by Planetek Hellas, EMTech Space, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens will conduct in-orbit-demonstrations of three different laser payload designs. The optical terminals will use laser light for high-bandwidth, secure links between the satellites and ground stations, potentially exceeding 1Gbps data rates. This technology represents a step change from traditional radio frequency communications, which are vulnerable to interference, provide much lower data rates, and require licensing.

OptiSat, led by Planetek Hellas, will host a TESAT SCOT20 laser communication terminal payload designed to demonstrate secure, high-rate laser links from small satellites in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). It was delivered, accepted and integrated with the 6U OptiSat satellite in August 2025 ahead of testing and launch preparations.

Hellenic Space Dawn comprises of two 8U satellites, managed by EMTech Space. The satellites are equipped with CubeCAT laser communication terminals from AAC Clyde Space. The mission will validate robust optical links, offering significant improvements over conventional radio frequency systems for transmission speeds and resistance to interference. This mission will also carry high-resolution cameras with the intention of leveraging optical links to enable low-latency support for applications such as cartography and land-use monitoring.

PeakSat is a 3U CubeSat developed by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. It will use the Astrolight ATLAS-1 laser communication terminal to test space-to-ground optical links with upgraded Greek optical ground stations. This will establish real-world performance metrics across a variety of atmospheric and operational conditions.

ERMIS-3 is a 6U satellite and a cornerstone mission of the Greek Connectivity Programme. It was built by the ERMIS consortium, led by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), and features an Astrolight ATLAS-1laser communication terminal. While the ERMIS-1 and ERMIS-2 missions focus on 5G Internet of Things non-terrestrial-network connectivity, ERMIS-3 will focus on high-capacity and secure space-to-ground optical links. In particular, it will emphasise precise pointing, acquisition and tracking (PAT) and operational robustness. ERMIS-3 plays a key role in validating Astrolight’s technology for future operational and constellation-level applications. ERMIS-3 also features a hyperspectral camera and will aim to demonstrate rapid transmission of hyperspectral imagery from space via optical links, for applications such as precision agriculture.

The CubeSats are part the Greek Connectivity Programme, implemented by ESA on behalf on the Greek Government’s Ministry of Digital Governance. Together with recent advances in the work on the Hellenic Assembly, Integration and Testing Facility (HAITF), these missions are part of a push to build up the country’s ability to design, build, test and operate satellites.

“This test campaign is a concerted effort to deliver top-of-the-line laser communications capabilities for Greece and advance its place as a fully-fledged player in Europe’s space ecosystem,” said Frederic Rouesnel, Greek National Telecommunications Satellites Programme Manager at the European Space Agency. “Mastering laser communications on compact satellites is a bold step towards next-gen constellation applications for the Greek Connectivity Programme.”

“PeakSat’s launch with Transporter-16 marks a significant milestone for SpaceDot, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and Prisma Electronics. The mission will demonstrate in-orbit optical communications with the Holomondas Optical Ground Station, developed at AUTH with the Laboratory of Theoretical Mechanics and Astronomy. Delivered end-to-end by student engineers and researchers, PeakSat shows how effective industry–academia collaboration can translate ambitious research goals into flight-ready capability,” said Panagiotis Vamvakas, PeakSat Project Manager at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. “With Astrolight’s ATLAS-1 optical terminal and key subsystems developed in-house – including the on-board computer and the communications board – PeakSat is ready to begin its operational phase in orbit.”

The state-of-the-art laser communications testing capabilities are central to Greece’s space strategy, enabling secure connectivity and high-speed data transfer for scientific, governmental and commercial applications.

13 Feb 2026

The MICE-1 and PHASMA Greek CubeSat missions supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) have begun their in-orbit activities, a key milestone in their launch and early operations phase.

The two missions were launched into Sun Synchronous Orbit on 28 November 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-15 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, USA. Joining DUTHSat-2 in orbit, MICE-1 and PHASMA are part of the Greek National Small Satellite Programme implemented by ESA on behalf of the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance. The three missions are part of a larger endeavour to launch a total of seven Greek missions, which will culminate with four additional CubeSat missions in 2026.

The Greek IOD/IOV CubeSat programme falls under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan ‘Greece 2.0’ funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), a core programme of the European Union’s NextGenerationEU. The RRF aims to strengthen Greece’s technological capabilities in areas such as secure connectivity and Earth observation, while fostering the country’s presence in the global space community.

MICE-1 and PHASMA are the latest addition to this effort. The satellites are operated by PRISMA Electronics and the Libre Space Foundation respectively. During the critical launch and operations phase, both teams work to verify spacecraft health, gradually activating onboard systems. Following launch, the operators successfully established contact with all spacecrafts and verified their response to commands – enabling the teams to safely progress through the commissioning of key functions and transition towards routine operations.

PHASMA is composed of two satellites, LAMARR and DIRAC, equipped with a SatNOGS-COMMS transceiver and a payload antenna used to monitor radio frequency activity in UHF and S-bands before sending the measurements to the ground stations. By combining measurements from the two satellites with their orbital positioning, operators will be able to determine the location of the signals, particularly whether they are originating from Earth or from space. With this information, the Libre Space Foundation team will be able to quantify global spectrum usage and identify potential sources of interference or violations.

The Maritime Identification and Communication systEm-1 (MICE-1), developed by Prisma Electronics S.A. with the support of the Democritus University of Thrace, is a 3U CubeSat focused on enhancing maritime tracking activities in the Mediterranean Sea.  MICE-1 hosts an antenna and receiver to track Automated Identification System (AIS) signals broadcast by seafaring vessels, extending maritime tracking coverage into remote areas. In addition, the mission establishes communication with ships equipped with PRISMA Electronics’ LAROS system. LAROS supports the diagnosis and early warning for structural, environmental and energy footprint assessment of maritime assets.

The remaining four ESA-supported missions of the seven  planned since  2023, are planned to be launched in 2026: ERMIS (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), OptiSat (Planetek Hellas), PeakSat (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) and Hellenic Space Dawn (EMTech SPACE). Together, the seven missions will contribute to expanding Greece’s space ambitions with practical know-how in satellite building, launch and operations to take on a growing place in the European space ecosystem.

“ESA and the Hellenic Ministry for Digital Governance are building a bold foundation for Greece’s future in space,” said Frederic Rouesnel, Greek National Telecom Satellites Programme Manager at the European Space Agency. “Each mission in the programme is another milestone in the new space race, expanding Greece’s ability to design, assemble, test, operate and leverage satellites – both independently and in collaboration with the rest of the European space ecosystem. We will continue building up speed towards this ambitious future in space in the months to come.”

21 Dec 2025

Civil and structural work has been completed on the Hellenic Assembly, Integration and Testing Facility (HAITF), implemented by ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications in collaboration with the Hellenic Aerospace Industry S.A. (HAI) on behalf of the Hellenic Government. This milestone comes after the successful launches for the Greek Satellite Connectivity Programme on Transporter-15 and puts the facility on track for its commissioning and acceptance, with operational target by the second quarter of 2026.

The infrastructure that will house the brand-new facility has been completed to the rigorous specifications of satellite Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) activities, with support from the main subcontractor, BCT Group. The AIT facility’s spatial configuration and structure have been designed to support the demanding operational requirements of satellite assembly, with purpose-built floors, load-bearing structures and overhead cranes. Furthermore, the room partitions, finishes, interfaces, systems & utility networks for the environmental controls constituting the ISO 8-compliant cleanroom have also been installed. In the coming weeks, installation of the remaining lighting, electrical distribution, and grounding infrastructure will proceed at pace to bring the cleanroom to operational standards.

This Hellenic AIT facility is being built to further support the role of Greece in the European space landscape. The HAITF will boost the design and manufacture of the next generation of Greek satellites, from subsystem integration to environmental qualification. The facility’s core capabilities will be enabled by two thermal vacuum chambers (TVAC) provided by Angelantoni Test Technologies, and a 125kN-rated Vibration Test System (shaker) provided by the IMV Corporation. Highlighting the rapid progress of development of the facility, IMV Corporation’s shaker system successfully passed its Factory Acceptance Stage in November 2025, validating its performance within HAITF’s strict specification requirements. Both TVAC and shaker components are expected to be installed in February 2026.

As part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0”, the Hellenic AIT facility project is funded by the European Union through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and implemented by ESA on behalf of the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance. The HAITF project was launched in November 2023 with the objective to design, build, and operate a fully functional Assembly, Integration and Testing infrastructure at HAI’s site in Schimatari. The implementation began in early 2025, targeting full installation by the first half of 2026, with site acceptance tests scheduled for no earlier than March 2026. The timeline demonstrates the momentum of the programme towards delivering modern high-performance facilities supporting advanced AIT capabilities for the Greek space industry.

“2025 has counted milestone after milestone for the Greek Connectivity Programme,” said Frédéric Rouesnel, Greek Connectivity RRF Project Manager at ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications. “The completion of the building housing the brand-new Hellenic AIT facility will boost Greece’s role in the European space landscape and open the doors for talent and expertise to grow locally with new jobs and projects throughout the value chain. Already, HAITF has shown Greece’s expertise to develop and produce highly rated facilities to enable  its growing role in the end-to-end European industrial resilience, strategic autonomy, collaboration and know-how.”