ESA confirms kick-start of IRIS² with European Commission and SpaceRISE

9 May 2025

ESA confirmed two contracts with the European Commission and industrial consortium, SpaceRISE, today in Brussels, Belgium. The contracts signify the kick-start of the IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) programme, with the first launch envisioned in 2029.

Space2Connect

ESA Space2Connect aims the entire satellite telecommunications value chain, covering commercial and institutional parts, to explore innovative space solutions to EMPOWER CONNECTIVITY FOR OUR SOCIETY.