Airbus: Successful Launch of SpainSat NG-II Satellite
The SpainSat NG-II secure communications satellite, built by Airbus for Spain, was successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center in the United States, according to the company.
Completion of Spain's Most Ambitious Space Project
The SpainSat NG program, considered the most ambitious space project in the history of Spain, has reached completion with the launch of the SpainSat NG-II satellite. This follows the launch of the first satellite in January. The program, led by the Spanish Ministry of Defense and operated by Hisdesat, aims to provide advanced secure communications to various institutional actors, such as the Spanish armed forces, the European Commission within the GOVSATCOM program, NATO, and other allied governments. Both satellites are expected to be operational by spring 2026.
Technical Specifications of SpainSat NG-II
The SpainSat NG-II satellite, based on Airbus's Eurostar Neo platform, weighs about 6 tons and is 7 meters tall. Its equipment includes an innovative system of active X-band antennas, offering functionalities equivalent to 16 traditional antennas. This system enables reliable and adaptable communications, capable of adjusting coverage up to 1,000 times per second. It is also capable of precisely eliminating and locating jamming attempts, being protected against potential nuclear electromagnetic pulses. The Spanish contribution to this technology is significant, as half of the payload was designed and manufactured by the Spanish space industry under the leadership of Airbus.
Key Technologies Developed Under ESA Partnership
Key technologies of the SpainSat NG were developed as part of the Pacis 3 partnership between ESA and Hisdesat, through ESA's ARTES program, with support from the Spanish Space Agency. This project positions Spain at the forefront of secure communications in Europe and among the few countries possessing such technology.
