The launch of the third and final batch of eight satellites marks the completion of IRIDE’s Eaglet II constellation. The launch took place at 20.32 CEST from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard the Transporter-18 rideshare mission with SpaceX.
IRIDE is Italy’s national Earth Observation infrastructure, owned by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and developed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), supplemented by the National Complementary Plan (PNC). The programme is being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) with the support of ASI. It brings together satellite constellations, ground infrastructure and digital services to turn Earth Observation data into operational geospatial services for institutions, public authorities, research and the country’s economic development. Upon completion of the design and validation phase, operational responsibility for the system is progressively transferred to ASI, which oversees its operation and future evolution.
With this third launch, the Eaglet II constellation reaches its planned final configuration of 24 satellites, less than twelve months after its first lift-off in 2025. These join the other 15 satellites in IRIDE’s HEO constellation, bringing the total number of satellites in orbit to 39.
The Eaglet II constellation is designed, integrated, tested and operated by OHB Italia. The company’s Rome site also hosts the Mission Control Centre, which acquired the satellites’ signals after separation and began commissioning activities.
The Eaglet II satellites represent a new generation of compact Earth Observation platforms. With a total mass of approximately 25 kg, the minisatellites carry optical sensors to capture RGB images and have the capability to receive and retransmit AIS signals for ship tracking, contributing to maritime surveillance and safety applications.
Data from the constellation will contribute to services for environmental monitoring, emergency management and support for Civil Protection, critical infrastructure monitoring, protection of land and coastal areas, and the development of commercial applications.
Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes at the European Space Agency (ESA) and Head of ESA’s ESRIN centre, said: “The launch of these eight satellites completes the deployment in orbit of IRIDE’s Eaglet II constellation, marking another important milestone for the programme. With this achievement, IRIDE, the Earth Observation programme that ESA is developing for the Italian Government, reaches a total of 39 satellites in orbit. This continues the constellation launch plan started in 2025 and expands the system’s capabilities. The milestone has been reached several months ahead of the PNRR deadlines. Deployment of the system will continue with further launches of NIMBUS-SAR and HEO satellites in the coming months, followed by other planned constellations developed by various industry partners. This will further strengthen the programme’s overall capabilities and the expertise of the Italian Earth Observation industry.”
Ambassador Mario Cospito, Commissioner of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), commented: “Today’s launch is another demonstration of what Italian industry can achieve when companies across the space sector work together towards a shared goal. This part of the constellation is now complete, meeting and, in some cases, even getting ahead of the development schedule set by PNRR funding. Thanks to the new satellites, the IRIDE programme will be even better equipped to provide advanced satellite information for Earth Observation, contributing data for the study of ongoing climate change and the protection of our planet. IRIDE was made possible by the commitment of the Italian Government. It is a valuable infrastructure serving public decision-making, safety, the protection of our territory, environmental sustainability and Italy’s competitiveness.”
Roberto Aceti, Managing Director of OHB Italia, said: “The full deployment of the Eaglet II constellation represents an achievement of extraordinary importance for OHB Italia and a source of deep pride for everyone who has contributed to its implementation. Placing twenty-four satellites entirely designed, integrated and tested by our company into orbit in less than a year means turning an ambitious project into a complete, operational space system. This result demonstrates the strength of our technological and industrial expertise and also OHB Italia’s ability to manage every stage of a constellation development: from building of the platforms to in-orbit operations through our Mission Control Centre in Rome. It marks the highest point of a complex journey made possible by the professionalism and dedication of our teams, as well as by the contribution of the entire network of partners and subcontractors who worked alongside us throughout the programme. Eaglet II represents one of OHB Italia’s most ambitious achievements in the field of Earth Observation, particularly in view of the demanding engineering and production schedule. At the same time, it represents a concrete commitment to Italy through the delivery of highly advanced operational geospatial services.”