A new chapter in the development of Greece's space infrastructure has begun with the successful launch of the Hyperion GR-1 microsatellite, the first Greek optical microsatellite developed under the National Microsatellite Program. The satellite was placed into orbit around Earth on Tuesday, July 7, following its launch aboard a SpaceX rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This milestone gives Greece, for the first time, its own national optical Earth observation capabilities.

The launch marks the beginning of the operational deployment of a Greek constellation of seven optical microsatellites, all of which are being built in Greece by Open Cosmos Aegean. The initiative is a strategic investment aimed at strengthening the Greek public sector's capabilities in areas such as civil protection, environmental monitoring, maritime surveillance, precision agriculture, and the protection of critical infrastructure.

Open Cosmos Aegean is implementing a critical part of the National Microsatellite Program, manufacturing 7 cutting-edge satellites (out of a total of 13 in the national program) in Greece, in state-of-the-art facilities in Pallini, which include 300 m² clean rooms and capabilities for comprehensive satellite design, assembly, integration, testing and operation. In addition, Open Cosmos Aegean has undertaken the construction and operation in Greece of a satellite ground station to provide telemetry, remote control and data transfer services for the entire constellation.

Hyperion GR-1 is equipped to capture high-resolution multispectral imagery with a ground sampling distance of up to 90 centimeters, enabling the systematic observation and monitoring of changes in both natural and built environments. The satellite also incorporates artificial intelligence (AI)-powered onboard data processing and inter-satellite communication links (ISLs), allowing for faster processing and transmission of critical information to ground stations. The data collected by the microsatellite will be integrated into Greece's Government Earth Observation Hub, which is being developed as the country's central digital platform for managing and exploiting satellite-derived information across the public administration.

With the launch of Hyperion GR-1, Greece now has a total of 18 microsatellites in orbit, as part of its broader strategy to develop national space infrastructure

According to the plans of the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, the system's applications will range from the early detection of wildfires and floods to post-disaster damage assessment, as well as the protection of forests and water resources, precision agriculture and aquaculture, and maritime surveillance, including vessel tracking and the detection of marine pollution incidents. In addition, the satellite data is expected to support urban planning, the monitoring of major infrastructure projects, and the inspection of critical infrastructure, strengthening the government's ability to make informed decisions based on up-to-date geospatial information.

Hyperion GR-1 is the first of seven optical microsatellites being developed under Greece's National Microsatellite Program, which is funded through the "Greece 2.0" Recovery and Resilience Facility. The program is being implemented by the General Secretariat of Telecommunications and Posts, with the support of the Hellenic Space Center (HSC) and the European Space Agency (ESA).

The Hellenic Space Center (HSC) is Greece's national space agency, responsible for coordinating the country's space policy, supporting the development of its space sector, and representing Greece in international space activities. Established in 2018, the HSC works under the supervision of the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence and collaborates closely with the European Space Agency (ESA), of which Greece has been a member since 2005. The HSC plays a central role in planning and implementing Greece's national space strategy. Its responsibilities include promoting satellite technologies, supporting research and innovation, strengthening the domestic aerospace industry, and encouraging participation by Greek companies and universities in European space programs. The agency also helps expand the use of satellite data in public services, including environmental monitoring, disaster management, maritime surveillance, precision agriculture, and urban planning.

Particular emphasis has also been placed on the involvement of the Greek aerospace industry in the development of Hyperion GR-1. According to the announcement, the satellite was built with the participation of Greek companies and engineers, helping to strengthen domestic expertise and laying the groundwork for the development of exportable space technologies and services.

The Greek government has already outlined the next phase of its space strategy through the HELLAS-SPACE 2.0 program, with a total budget of €350 million. The initiative aims to significantly expand the country's capabilities in the space sector over the coming years.

The Greek Space Tech Forum 2026 (GSTF26) is one of Greece's leading events dedicated to the rapidly growing space sector, bringing together government officials, industry leaders, researchers, investors, startups, and European institutions. Held in Athens on 7–8 July 2026, the forum focused on strengthening Greece's role in the European space economy and advancing national capabilities in satellite technologies, Earth observation, artificial intelligence, defence and dual-use applications, climate resilience, and commercial space innovation.

Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Dimitris Papastergiou stated that "the launch of Hyperion GR-1 marks a new era for our country. We are acquiring another powerful tool that will enable us to use satellite data for the benefit of our citizens: to protect our forests and maritime areas, support precision agriculture, map both regulated and unregulated development, and make faster decisions during times of crisis.” He added that the launch forms part of a broader national strategy, referring to the recent unveiling of the HELLAS-SPACE 2.0 program, with a €350 million budget, which builds on the National Microsatellite Program. "Our goal is for technology to make the state more effective, the country more resilient, and the everyday lives of citizens better," he concluded.

(Source: https://www.amna.gr/  )

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As part of its new “National Small Satellite Program” Greece is to acquire 15 earth observation satellites by 2026. This important project is doted with a total budget of 200 million euros and aims to support national efforts related to environmental protection and climate change.

The program, designed by the Ministry of Digital Governance in collaboration with the General Secretariat of Telecommunications and Posts and the Hellenic Space Center (HSC), is funded and managed by Greece alone, while the European Space Agency has been brought on to assist with the management of its initial phases.

Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou underlined the critical role of the program in monitoring and tackling climate change in an interview with the Athens Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) : "the 15 microsatellites will provide useful data every day, several times a day," adding that  "the program will also contribute to other areas, such as meteorology, agricultural crops, but also the economy, as the companies that have undertaken the construction of the microsatellites will contracts are required to establish offices, laboratories, and manufacturing facilities in our country; all this knowledge will remain in Greece."

The National Microsatellite Program of the Ministry of Digital Governance, consists of several projects and programs which are all being implemented; the last contract, for the governmental geoinformation hub, which concerns the collection, storage, processing and distribution of high-precision geospatial data, will be signed on November 14.

Small Satellite Program, brain gain and the consolidation of the Greek space ecosystem

As minister Papastergiou noted, the program is mature: “Three tenders for the satellite system have been completed, they have been signed and by November 14, we will sign the last contract - to which many Greek companies are coming - and which concerns the base station and the creation of this hub. Now we can talk about a national strategy for Space."

Moreover, he added that "this program is a huge opportunity for the economy, for investments in Greece, because we have resources from the Recovery Fund totaling 200 million euros. However, it is important that this money generates a leveraging of funds so that we can sustain this initiative." 

Minister Papastergiou also underlined the “brain gain” aspect of the program: the Greek space technology ecosystem will now be self-sustaining, as it will generate tangible results and products. Since the very beginning, for the first three tenders for microsatellite construction, we wanted to employ Greek engineers, giving them the opportunity to work on the construction and operation of satellite systems in their own country, while the same time, opening the way for the "repatriation" of brilliant scientific minds, the return of Greeks who emigrated to various countries abroad in search of better professional prospects.  The minister stressed that “the companies awarded the contracts are required to establish offices, laboratories, and manufacturing facilities in our country. This ensures that the technology, expertise, and capabilities remain here, allowing us to continue developing independently in the future.”

How will the National Microsatellite Program be utilized?

According to a report by Kathimerini, until recently, every public service or organization procured images and data from space separately through private entities, often leading to wasting resources on the same material. Greece will now achieve autonomy, as satellite data and products derived from the 15 microsatellites will be distributed among various public agencies, such as the Ministries of Environment and Energy, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Maritime Affairs, as well as the Police and Fire Department.

Data from microsatellites will be particularly useful in addressing natural disasters, as the images collected from space will complement the data from the Copernicus system and the services of the Hellenic Space Center.

Apart from monitoring natural disasters, the capability to capture high-resolution images will help document unauthorized construction, monitor marine pollution, and track illegal fishing. Additionally, valuable data will be collected on agriculture across the country and on the assessment of renewable energy projects.

The deployment of microsatellites in space will assist in documenting unauthorized construction and monitoring marine pollution and illegal fishing. Furthermore, valuable data will be gathered on agriculture across the country and for the evaluation of renewable energy projects.

 “With these microsatellites, we will have multispectral data that will cover the entire Greek territory daily. In this way, we will monitor long-term environmental changes. In an era where we are constantly experiencing the effects of the climate crisis globally, we are utilizing the resources of the Recovery Fund and investing in space to acquire a unique ‘technological toolkit.’ With its help, we will protect human lives and nature,” stated the Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, during the event for signing the agreement for the construction and launch of the cluster of 7 microsatellites on July 2 between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the company Open Cosmos.

A second cluster of microsatellites, that will be acquired as Part of National Microsatellite Program Greece are six Thermal and Radar (SAR) Microsatellites, which will strengthen the country's ability to deal with natural disasters through advanced space technologies.

The relevant agreements for the construction and launch of the cluster of 6 Microsatellites were signed on September 09, between ESA and OroraTech and ICEYE. The microsatellites, which will be deployed through these contracts, according to the Digital Governance ministry, will provide real-time vital data, enabling the relevant authorities to make more targeted and effective decisions to strengthen the country's resilience against climate crisis.

I.L. with information from Ministry of Digital Governance, ANA-MPA, Kathimerini

* Featured image source: Open Cosmos

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