As part of the "National Microsatellite Programme," Greece will acquire seven satellites for earth observation within 2026. With a total budget of €60 million, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan Greece 2.0 is funding this significant project with the intention that the satellite data and the products that come from their processing will support our nation's efforts on issues related to environmental protection and climate change.
The agreement for the construction and launch of the microsatellite cluster was signed today, July 2, between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the company Open Cosmos, in the presence of the Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou, the Deputy Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis, and the Secretary General of Telecommunications and Postal Services Konstantinos Karantzialos.
During the signing of the agreement, Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou stressed the importance of technology in addressing the climate crisis and protecting the environment. "As a country, we are implementing such a space programme for the first time, and this is of great importance, as we have designed it from the very beginning to respond to a number of critical national needs. Through the deployment of a swarm of microsatellites, we will have valuable near-real-time data that will contribute to timely decision-making and policy-making in important areas such as civil protection. For example, with these seven microsatellites, we will have multi-spectral data covering the whole Greek territory on a daily basis. In this way, we will be able to monitor changes in the environment over time. At a time when we are constantly experiencing the effects of the climate crisis worldwide, we are using the resources of the Recovery Fund and investing in space by acquiring a unique "technological toolbox.". With its help, we will protect human lives and nature. At the same time, through the program, the Greek space industry is being strengthened with significant benefits for the economy and society," he stressed.
