Open Cosmos wins ESA deal to build EO constellation for Greece. Photo: Open Cosmos

The European Space Agency (ESA) awarded Open Cosmos a 60 million euro ($65 million) contract to build a multisensor Earth observation (EO) constellation for Greece. It is a flagship project from the Greek government that will provide satellite data for the nation’s land registry, combating sea pollution, and increasing agricultural efficiency.

The seven satellite constellation will have multiple sensors including a very-high resolution optical multispectral and hyperspectral cameras, IoT and Automatic Identification System (AIS) receivers.  

The deal announced Wednesday is a win for Open Cosmos, a European startup with offices in the U.K., Spain, and Portugal. Founder and CEO Rafel Jorda Siquier, said in a news release that the company competed against leading players in the industry. The company will open a new manufacturing center in Greece, Open Cosmos Aegean, to build and operate the satellites. 

Open Cosmos is also building OpenConstellation, a shared infrastructure in space. Greece is set to join the partnership of nations and companies in the private sector, exchanging valuable data in respect of disaster responses and environmental monitoring. 

“Greece is making significant steps in Space. By investing in both capacity-buying and capacity-building space programs, our aim is to stimulate local high-tech space industries, foster job creation, retain our skilled engineers and space experts in the country and attract additional talent,” Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou said in a release. “The development of cutting-edge satellite technology will cultivate a sustainable economic framework that integrates advanced science and technology sectors, bolstering long-term economic resilience in the country.”