Eight more satellites added to IRIDE space programme
Eight satellites built for Italy’s IRIDE Earth‑observation programme were launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon‑9 on the Transporter‑16 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 13:02 CEST (04:02 UTC) on 30 March. The payload brings the total number of IRIDE satellites in orbit to 24, doubling the size of the Eaglet II constellation that first flew in November 2025. Signal acquisition was confirmed a few hours after liftoff by OHB Italia’s Mission Control Centre in Rome, marking the successful insertion of the new assets into their operational orbits.
The eight newcomers belong to the Eaglet II constellation, each carrying a high‑resolution multispectral optical sensor and an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder for vessel‑traffic monitoring. Designed, tested and operated by OHB Italia, the 25‑kg spacecraft are roughly the size of a domestic microwave oven and will operate at altitudes between 467 km and 625 km, delivering imagery with about 2 m ground resolution. The constellation now comprises 16 satellites, with a further eight scheduled for launch later in the year, while the Hawk for Earth Observation (HEO) constellation already hosts eight satellites. IRIDE’s overall architecture envisions six constellations and a total of 68 satellites, with full deployment planned by 2027; the Eaglet II segment is expected to remain functional for roughly three years per unit.
Coordinated by the European Space Agency with support from the Italian Space Agency, the IRIDE programme is financed through Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan and aims to supply geospatial data for coastal monitoring, land‑cover analysis, emergency mapping and other public‑service applications. ESA Earth‑Observation Programme Director Simonetta Cheli highlighted that the launch meets the PNRR target seven months ahead of schedule, underscoring the collaboration among ESA, ASI, OHB Italia, Telespazio, Optec and Aresys. ASI President Teodoro Valente noted that the constellation reinforces Italy’s technological leadership in Earth observation, while OHB Italia CEO Roberto Aceti emphasized the maturity of the system and the effectiveness of the partner network in delivering an operational service for national authorities and commercial users.
