D-Orbit secures a €26 million contract with ESA
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D-Orbit secures a €26 million contract with ESA
D-Orbit, the space logistics and orbital transportation company listed on ClubDealOnline in 2020 through the vehicle D-Spazio Capital Partners, announced today, April 5, the signing of a €26 million contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for IRIDE, the space observation program launched by the Italian government.
The initiative will monitor critical infrastructure, air quality, and weather conditions, and will provide data for applications supporting commercial startups, SMEs, and industry. The program includes the creation of a satellite constellation, ground infrastructures, and services for the Italian public administration.
Under this contract, D-Orbit will supply a SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite and manage its operational flight segment on behalf of the end user. The agreement also includes an option for an additional SAR satellite worth €24 million.
The SAR sensor will be developed by MetaSensing, an Italian company specializing in advanced radar technologies.
The IRIDE program will consist of a satellite constellation, ground operational infrastructures, and services for the Italian public sector. The constellation—scheduled for launch between 2025 and 2026—will employ a variety of sensing techniques and technologies, including microwave and optical imaging across different frequencies.
It will deliver data for applications supporting startups, SMEs, and industrial users.
“We are proud of this contract, which fits perfectly within our Satellite-as-a-Service business line. Since the beginning, our successful partnerships with esteemed organizations like the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency have fueled our growth, enabling us to take part in cutting-edge research initiatives and generate meaningful social impact.”
Stefano Antonetti, VP Business Development and Institutional Sales, D-Orbit
“The IRIDE project is an important milestone for MetaSensing and a major step for StarSAR-X, our high-performance X-band radar system. We are proud to contribute to such a significant and capable Italian constellation.”
Adriano Meta, CEO and Founder, MetaSensing
IRIDE will assist the Italian Civil Protection agency and other organizations in monitoring critical infrastructures, air quality, and meteorological conditions. The data gathered by the constellation will also support applications for commercial startups, SMEs, and industry.
The PNRR (Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan) has allocated around €2 billion to the space economy as part of its Digitalization Mission.
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