Tenerife Seeks Firms to Build Canary Islands Satellite Constellation

The Tenerife Island Council announced yesterday that three companies are competing for a contract to design, build, launch, and operate a network of eight satellites. This network, called the Canary Islands Constellation, will also capture images of the islands.

The companies in the running are: a group called Aistech Space – Enduro Trading – Técnicas Competitivas, Open Cosmos Canarias, and Telespazio Ibérica.

The Island Council explained that they will now evaluate the technical and financial aspects of each company's proposal. They expect to award the contract by the end of 2025, with design and development starting in 2026. The satellite network should be up and running by 2028.

The project has a budget of €21.3 million and will take six years to complete. It's a collaboration with the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics (IAC) and other tech companies in the Canary Islands. The goal is to create a network of satellites that orbit close to Earth and provide daily images of Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. Images of the other Canary Islands will be available upon request.

This project will provide real-time satellite information to help:

• Detect and prevent wildfires and natural disasters.
• Monitor climate change and improve the management of water and natural resources.
• Protect biodiversity and natural ecosystems.
• Improve urban emergency management and infrastructure planning.

Using different types of images, including visible light, infrared, and thermal infrared, the satellite network will provide accurate and up-to-date data for informed decision-making.

The Island Council emphasized that this project will put the Canary Islands at the forefront of Earth observation technology.

Rosa Dávila, the president of the Island Council, said that "this project puts Tenerife on the map for aerospace innovation. It boosts our economy and shows our commitment to sustainability and fighting climate change." Juan José Martínez, the Island Councilor for Innovation, added that "the Canary Islands Constellation is an investment in the future. We're supporting Canary talent and a diverse economy based on technology and sustainability."

Here's a little more about the companies involved:

• Telespazio Ibérica is part of the Telespazio Group, which provides satellite technology services and geoinformation. They are based in Rome and have locations in fifteen countries, including four space centers.
• Open Cosmos, originally from Majorca but based in the UK, has chosen the Science and Technology Park of the Tenerife Island Council as one of its European headquarters. They were involved in developing the first Canary satellite, Alisio-1.
• Aistech Space is a Spanish company that uses small satellites to capture high-resolution thermal images. Técnicas Competitivas is a Canary company that provides services and develops products in the field of Information and Communication Technologies.