On November 28, 2025, the SpaceX Transporter-15 mission launched from California, carrying as many as 140 payloads into sun-synchronous orbit. Among them were two new radar satellites from the Finnish-Greek company ICEYE, intended for the Greek National Small Satellite Program, two experimental ESA HydroGNSS satellites, and a new series of Italian spacecraft from the state IRIDE program. The launch from the SLC-4E complex at Vandenberg Base and the official confirmation of the liftoff time (10:44 Pacific Time, 18:44 UTC) marked a key turning point: the Greek space Earth observation program entered the operational phase with a direct impact on disaster management, environmental monitoring, and national security.

Why these two satellites are important for Greece

The two ICEYE Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites represent the first operational pair of radar satellites within the Greek National Small Satellite Program. These are X-band platforms weighing approximately 120 kilograms per spacecraft that operate in multiple observation modes and enable data acquisition day and night, regardless of clouds, smoke, fog, or rain. In the highest performance class, the system delivers products with a resolution of up to 25 centimeters, which is sufficient for precise detection and classification of objects such as vehicles and vessels, and for detailed damage assessments after floods, fires, and other extreme events. Combined with a phased array antenna and rapid "tasking" capabilities, the satellites are adapted to the rapid operational needs of civil protection, the navy, port authorities, and other emergency services.

These two satellites are part of a broader investment funded through the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The project is implemented by the Greek Government in cooperation with ICEYE and the European Space Agency (ESA). At the national level, it is led by the Ministry of Digital Governance and the Hellenic Space Center (HSC), while ESA ensures the contractual and technical framework and data interoperability at the level of member states. This guarantees from the start the inclusion of Greek missions in the unified European data exchange system – an important prerequisite for rapid international cooperation in emergency situations and for the development of the domestic "downstream" ecosystem.

Transporter-15: European content on an American rocket

Transporter-15 is a typical SpaceX "rideshare" mission, but with a distinctly European signature. In addition to the Greek radar satellites, the rocket also carried two ESA HydroGNSS "Scout" nanosatellites from the FutureEO program. HydroGNSS uses GNSS reflectometry to measure key components of the water cycle – soil moisture, freeze/thaw, wetland status, and biomass changes – improving the quality of climate models and operational forecasts. New satellites of the Italian state IRIDE constellation, led by ESA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), also flew on the same rocket, with the aim of ensuring reliable data for Italy's public services in the domains of environment, emergencies, and security.

ICEYE's spacecraft on this mission were integrated by Exolaunch, which prepared the satellites for installation in separation mechanisms and coordinated technical aspects of accommodation within the multi-user flight. After liftoff on November 28, 2025, the establishment of communication with the satellites and the start of routine commissioning procedures were confirmed. ICEYE also reported that with this launch, it has further expanded the world's largest commercial SAR constellation, with part of the newly raised capacities going precisely to support national missions like the Greek one.

Architecture of the Greek constellation: radar, optical, and thermal layer

The Greek National Small Satellite Program is conceived as a constellation of multiple sensor types. Two operational radar satellites launched on November 28, 2025, form the foundation of the radar layer, and the phased introduction of the remaining operational platforms is planned during 2026 to achieve daily (or more frequent) coverage of the area of interest. The program is designed to stimulate domestic industry – from subsystem construction to data integration and processing – and to create a sustainable value chain for the export of Earth observation services.

In addition to the radar layer, four thermal-infrared (TIR) satellites developed by OroraTech are also foreseen. Their role is early detection of thermal anomalies, detection and monitoring of forest fires, as well as support for risk assessments in the summer months. The third layer consists of seven high-resolution optical satellites developed by Open Cosmos. This component will bring multispectral and very-high-resolution imagery useful for spatial planning, agriculture, urban planning, coastal zone protection, and marine environment monitoring. ESA concluded contracts for the optical and thermal components on behalf of the Greek Government, and both lines will have strong reliance on Greek partners and research institutions.

Operational benefits: from floods and fires to maritime safety

The main advantage of SAR technology is consistent acquisition regardless of clouds and time of day. For Greek needs, this means it is possible to map flood areas even while rain is still falling, track the progress of fire fronts even through thick smoke, but also spot landslides and terrain micro-displacements with the help of interferometry (InSAR). In the maritime domain, SAR enables the detection of vessels that do not emit an AIS signal ("dark" ships), surveillance of illegal activities, and rapid assessment of pollution and accidents. When radar products are paired with thermal (TIR) and optical data, a fusion flow of information is created that drastically shortens the time from event to decision – whether it concerns evacuations, traffic rerouting, deployment of firefighting air forces, or targeted closure of coastal areas.

Crucial is also the fact that through the partnership, Greece gains access to the entire ICEYE constellation – the largest SAR network in the world – which is decisive in the first hours after a disaster when frequent imaging from different orbital tracks is needed. This access enables a high cadence of observation even before the national constellation reaches full size, thereby reducing operational risk and increasing the robustness of services responding in the field.

Imaging modes, resolution, and Gen4 platform

ICEYE offers multiple imaging modes that balance resolution and area: Spot and Dwell for extreme details and precise change detection, Strip for long imaging strips in medium resolution, and Scan for very wide areas. Dwell Precise brings resolution up to 25 cm, while the latest generation platform (Gen4) expands the coverage area per pass and increases information density in a single cycle, enabling more frequent image refresh without compromise on quality. The platforms operate in the X-band and rely on a phased array antenna with electronic scanning, which enables rapid tasking, quick mode switching, and tactical flexibility.

The compact mass (about 120 kg) and power architecture with five solar panels are optimized for the "rideshare" profile. Serial production and modular design reduce the cost per satellite and accelerate the constellation refresh rhythm. At the system level, this means greater resilience: the failure of one unit does not jeopardize the whole, and a new platform can be relatively quickly integrated into the orbital network.

Governance model and data sovereignty

Operations in orbit are managed by ICEYE, while Greece obtains sovereign capability for data access, priority tasking, and full integration of products into national information systems. Such a model shortens the time to operability because it relies on the existing infrastructure and experience of a commercial operator, while simultaneously transferring knowledge, building domestic capacities, and including Greek companies in the production and "downstream" chain. ESA thereby ensures common standards, security protocols, and data exchange within the European framework.

Industrial impact: jobs, knowledge, and export

Funding from the RRF is directed at the entire value chain. ICEYE has opened an office and production line in Athens for radar subsystems and assembly, OroraTech has launched a regional headquarters for the thermal constellation, and Open Cosmos is developing local capacities through the subsidiary Open Cosmos Aegean. This creates highly skilled jobs, strengthens supply chains, and increases the share of domestic industry in major space programs. In the long term, the investment supports the creation of an export portfolio of products and services – from advanced radar subsystems to analytical solutions based on satellite data.

Applications in practice: what the "end-to-end" data flow looks like

When extreme precipitation raises water levels, the Civil Protection operational center priority-tasks a new acquisition. Data downloaded from ICEYE satellites is automatically registered to previous images, flood area and depth maps are generated from them, and results are delivered to intervention teams within minutes. In maritime surveillance, the combination of radar images and AIS data enables the detection of ships with switched-off transponders, tracking of suspicious movement patterns, and rapid confirmation of pollution. In forestry and rural areas, thermal satellites detect early point sources of heat and send warnings, while the optical layer gives an overview of hotspots, passability, and vegetation damage. In urban planning and infrastructure, InSAR series measure millimeter displacements of levees, dams, bridges, and reclaimed coasts, helping critical infrastructure owners to act preventively before an accident occurs.

Time horizon: what follows after November 28, 2025

With the introduction of two radar satellites into operation, the operational foundation of the Greek constellation has been laid. During 2026, the deployment of the remaining optical and thermal spacecraft and further strengthening of the radar segment is planned to achieve daily or more frequent coverage of the area of interest. In parallel, ground segments are being developed – a national archive and data marketplace, a processing center, and exchange protocols with European and international partners. Contracts concluded by ESA on behalf of the Greek Government with industrial leads (Open Cosmos and OroraTech) ensure the delivery and operational anchoring of the entire system in the real needs of state and local services.

European context and institutional messages

The joint flight with Italian IRIDE and ESA HydroGNSS satellites shows how national initiatives fit into the broader European framework. IRIDE, funded through the Italian PNRR and led in partnership by ESA and ASI, is building a data "marketplace" to be managed by e-GEOS and to serve public services. HydroGNSS, although a compact mission, brings data on key water cycle variables and thus complements radar and optical products. ESA states that the inclusion of ICEYE's X-band radar capability in the Greek program clearly shows how space technologies translate science and engineering into concrete benefits on Earth. The Greek Minister of Digital Governance and AI Dimitrios Papastergiou emphasized that the new satellite assets will strengthen the state's ability to monitor and protect land and sea in all conditions.

Viewed with hindsight up to November 30, 2025, just two days after liftoff, Greece can rightly say that its Earth observation infrastructure has entered a new phase: operational, connected with European partners, and industrially grounded. The upcoming expansion of the constellation – with an additional four thermal satellites and seven optical platforms – will further increase the frequency of imaging and the breadth of applications, from environmental protection and forestry, through navigation safety and pollution control, to support for agriculture, urban planning, and risk management in the climatically demanding years that follow.