[Satellite News – 5-19-08] Spain is getting serious about space, with plans to launch a pair of its own satellites in the next few years to improve its capabilities.
“After several years participating in multinational space programmes, we feel we are at the right time to initiate the development of our own space capability,” Col. Antonio Lázaro Espada of the Spanish Air Force and chief of the Spanish Helios Program, told Satellite News at the MilSpace show in Paris. “We are just at the beginning. We will go step by step. We are taking small steps and these two satellites are an example of that. If you try and be too ambitious, then it might not work. I think the approach my government has chosen is cost-effective and would meet our requirements from a civilian and defense perspective.”
The first satellite, Ingenio, should be operational in 2012 and will be equipped with optical sensors. The second satellite, Paz, will be equipped with synthetic opening radar sensors with resolution suitable for producing military intelligence, he said.
“My personal view is that Spain, with this decision, has decided to be much more proactive in this sector,” said Lázaro Espada. “You should not ignore that the use of space does not only allow increasing the efficiency of military operations and deterrence capabilities but also enhances the strategic influence of a country on the international scene.”
EADS CASA, the Spanish subsidiary of EADS, will be the prime contractor for Ingenio; EADS Astrium, the French subsidiary of EADS, will be the prime contractor for Paz. Funding for the program, about 325 million euros ($499.3 million), will be split between the Spanish Ministry of Defence, which will provide 135 million euros ($207.4 million) and the Ministry of Industry, which will provide 190 million euros ($291.91 million).
“I think we should follow an incremental approach with these two satellites being the foundation of the dream we have,” said Lázaro Espada. “We are starting to understand about building satellites. We are building our knowledge in this area, therefore, we should follow a pragmatic approach in bringing on this capacity, which needs to be complementary approach to the one that we are getting participating in multinational programs in Europe.”

Independence In Space

While Spain is happy to be part of multi-national frameworks, the two new satellites are seen as vital for Spain when using satellite technology for its own benefit.
“We want to participate in European programs, but when we have a crisis that is relevant to us we want to have the timely capacity and capability required to take right and independent decisions,” Lázaro Espada said. “For example, we have migratory issues in Spain with people entering the country illegally. We want to have and use our own capacity to help us to address this issue.”
The program also will help Spain play a stronger role in European-wide projects. “Our national program will not only provide operative autonomy and versatility in order to achieve security and defense information but will also allow a qualitative leap forward by the national industry, which will place it in a better position to participate or even lead technological segments within European multinational programmes,” Lázaro Espada said. “It also represents a substantial increase in Spain’s participation in the Global Monitoring Environmental and Security, the most important European initiative regarding Earth observation under the leadership of the [European Union], and proves Spain’s firm support of [European Union] Space Policy,” he said.