18 May 2026

The European Space Agency (ESA), together with the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance, has supported the development and commissioning of the Holomondas Optical Ground Station (OGS) in Greece, marking another important milestone in Europe’s efforts to build next-generation optical connectivity infrastructure.

Developed under the PeakSat project led by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and implemented with space and defence company Astrolight, the Holomondas station is now operational and ready to support in-orbit demonstration and validation activities for Greek CubeSat missions carrying laser communication payloads.

The project forms part of ESA’s Greek Connectivity Programme, carried out on behalf of the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance under the Greek IOD/IOV CubeSat initiative. The programme is designed to strengthen Greece’s and Europe’s capabilities in secure, high-speed optical communications from space.

PeakSat and ERMIS-3, two Greek CubeSats supported by ESA, successfully reached orbit on 30 March 2026 as part of a wider launch campaign involving eight ESA-backed spacecraft. Both missions carry optical communication payloads that will demonstrate high-throughput laser links between satellites in orbit and the Holomondas OGS on Earth. Astrolight supplied both the ground segment and the ATLAS-1 laser communication terminals onboard the satellites, creating a complete end-to-end optical communications system for in-orbit testing.

The Holomondas station, originally an astronomical observatory, has been upgraded with advanced laser communication capabilities, including an 808-nanometre laser beacon and a compatible C-band optical receiver. These systems enable precise laser beam alignment and optical data reception at speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps under varying atmospheric and operational conditions.

The project also demonstrates how innovative engineering approaches can help reduce the size, weight and infrastructure requirements traditionally associated with optical ground stations, helping pave the way for more scalable and cost-effective deployment of optical communication networks across Europe.

Unlike traditional radio-frequency systems, optical communications use narrow infrared laser beams to transmit data at significantly higher rates of up to 100 times, while offering resilience against interference and congestion.

“ESA is proud to support the joint efforts of Astrolight and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in advancing Europe’s next generation of optical communication infrastructure. The commissioning of the Holomondas Optical Ground Station marks an important step towards enabling faster, more secure, and resilient connectivity, while strengthening Greece’s role within Europe’s expanding optical communications ecosystem,” said Frederic Rouesnel, Greek Connectivity RRF Project Manager at ESA. “As the Greek CubeSats move into their demonstration phase, they will help validate innovative laser communication technologies that will provide alternatives to scarce radio frequencies and shape the future of high-capacity connectivity in space.”

“We are happy to apply our technical expertise to commission the Holomondas station and support the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki’s efforts to advance Greece’s and Europe’s optical communication infrastructure,” said Laurynas Mačiulis, CEO of Astrolight. “By providing an end-to-end communication system, with ground and space segments designed to work together from the start, we helped streamline the mission’s path from integration to in-orbit testing.”

“Holomondas is moving closer to becoming an internationally recognised optical communication hub and contributing to the future global network of optical ground stations,” said Kleomenis Tsiganis. “This progress has been made possible through close collaboration between academia and industry, and our joint endeavor shows how such partnerships can accelerate the development of laser communication infrastructure.”

The initiative contributes to ESA’s broader efforts to develop secure, resilient and high-capacity communications infrastructure that will support future satellite services, Earth observation missions and Europe’s long-term connectivity ambitions.

04 May 2026

The European Space Agency (ESA) has supported the launch of two satellites in the Hellenic Space Dawn mission, the final CubeSat mission in the Greek Connectivity Programme implemented by ESA on behalf of the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance. The Hellenic Space Dawn satellites were launched to low Earth orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, at 08:00 a.m. BST (09:00 a.m. CET) on 3 May 2026.

Hellenic Space Dawn comprises two 8U-size CubeSats, HELIOS and SELENE, managed by EMTECH SPACE and equipped with CubeCAT laser communication terminals provided by AAC Clyde Space. This mission will also carry high-resolution cameras with the intention of leveraging optical links to enable low-latency support for applications such as cartography and land-use monitoring. In addition, the satellites will support the validation of in-space data processing hardware as well as a radiofrequency inter-satellite links. Once operational, this mission will validate robust direct to Earth (DTE) optical links, offering significant improvements over conventional radio frequency systems for transmission speeds and resistance to interference.

Hellenic Space Dawn is the culmination of the space segment in the Greek Connectivity Programme, an ambitious programme initiated in 2023 to fast-track Greek In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) missions. Implemented by ESA with funding from the European Union, the programme aims to boost the country’s space industry – from design, manufacturing, operation and ground station communications – and strengthen its place in the European space ecosystem.

Hellenic Space Dawn is the last of the seven IOD missions in the programme. Alongside three similarly specialised missions launched earlier this year, Hellenic Space Dawn will help to validate next-generation optical terminals in support of Greece’s expanding capabilities in resilient optical communication technologies. Altogether, the seven IOD missions in the Programme feature a total of 11 satellites launched to low Earth orbit between 2025 and 2026. Each spacecraft is currently either performing its nominal mission or progressing through its Launch and Early Operations Phase (LEOP) during which its operators meticulously check the satellites’ systems’ health in anticipation of commissioning and commencement of normal mission operations.

Together with the expected completion of the Hellenic Assembly, Integration and Testing Facility (HAITF), as well as multiple optical ground stations, the IOD missions contribute to building up the country’s end-to-end space capabilities and foster competitive European solutions. 

24 Mar 2026

The DUTHsat-2 mission, the first of seven missions implemented by the European Space Agency (ESA) on behalf of the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance for Greek National Small Satellite Programme is progressing through its Launch and Early Operations Phase (LEOP) in low Earth orbit. The satellite was originally launched as part of the Transporter-14 mission on Monday 23 June 2025 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9.

DUTHSat-2 is a 6U CubeSat that will perform In Orbit validations of essential telemetry and housekeeping units as well as demonstrations for its payload, a camera designed to take pictures over the land and sea in the visible and near infrared spectrum. This mission is led by the Democritus University of Thrace, with support of the Athena Research Centre and companies Space Asics and Prisma Electronics SA.

Since its launch in mid-2025, DUTHSat-2 has been undergoing progressive activation and monitoring of onboard systems and deployable elements – a process referred to as LEOP. This phase of the mission allows teams to monitor the spacecraft’s health while configuring it for standard operations. The next milestone for the mission will be its commissioning, which will mark the start of its core in-orbit demonstration and validation missions.

DUTHSat-2 was the inaugural launch for the Greek Connectivity Programme, followed up by the MICE-1 and PHASMA missions in late 2025. The remaining four missions in the programme are expected to launch no earlier than March 2026 and will conduct a test campaign for spaceborne optical laser terminals. The Greek National Small Satellite Programme is implemented by the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance, supported by the General Secretariat of Telecommunications and Posts, and overseen by the Hellenic Space Center, with ESA’s support. This initiative is part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan ‘Greece 2.0’, which is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), core programme of the European Union’s NextGenerationEU. The programme aims to build national expertise in space technologies while enabling demonstrations in areas such as Earth observation and secure connectivity.

13 Feb 2026

The European Space Agency (ESA) is supporting an extensive test campaign for optical laser terminals orchestrated by a broad coalition of Greek aerospace and academic partners under the Greek Connectivity Programme. Launching with four CubeSat missions in the first half of 2026, this campaign will aim to validate next-generation laser communication terminals in support of Greece’s expanding Connectivity and Secure Communications Programme.

The missions, operated by Planetek Hellas, EMTech Space, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens will conduct in-orbit-demonstrations of three different laser payload designs. The optical terminals will use laser light for high-bandwidth, secure links between the satellites and ground stations, potentially exceeding 1Gbps data rates. This technology represents a step change from traditional radio frequency communications, which are vulnerable to interference, provide much lower data rates, and require licensing.

OptiSat, led by Planetek Hellas, will host a TESAT SCOT20 laser communication terminal payload designed to demonstrate secure, high-rate laser links from small satellites in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). It was delivered, accepted and integrated with the 6U OptiSat satellite in August 2025 ahead of testing and launch preparations.

Hellenic Space Dawn comprises of two 8U satellites, managed by EMTech Space. The satellites are equipped with CubeCAT laser communication terminals from AAC Clyde Space. The mission will validate robust optical links, offering significant improvements over conventional radio frequency systems for transmission speeds and resistance to interference. This mission will also carry high-resolution cameras with the intention of leveraging optical links to enable low-latency support for applications such as cartography and land-use monitoring.

PeakSat is a 3U CubeSat developed by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. It will use the Astrolight ATLAS-1 laser communication terminal to test space-to-ground optical links with upgraded Greek optical ground stations. This will establish real-world performance metrics across a variety of atmospheric and operational conditions.

ERMIS-3 is a 6U satellite and a cornerstone mission of the Greek Connectivity Programme. It was built by the ERMIS consortium, led by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), and features an Astrolight ATLAS-1laser communication terminal. While the ERMIS-1 and ERMIS-2 missions focus on 5G Internet of Things non-terrestrial-network connectivity, ERMIS-3 will focus on high-capacity and secure space-to-ground optical links. In particular, it will emphasise precise pointing, acquisition and tracking (PAT) and operational robustness. ERMIS-3 plays a key role in validating Astrolight’s technology for future operational and constellation-level applications. ERMIS-3 also features a hyperspectral camera and will aim to demonstrate rapid transmission of hyperspectral imagery from space via optical links, for applications such as precision agriculture.

The CubeSats are part the Greek Connectivity Programme, implemented by ESA on behalf on the Greek Government’s Ministry of Digital Governance. Together with recent advances in the work on the Hellenic Assembly, Integration and Testing Facility (HAITF), these missions are part of a push to build up the country’s ability to design, build, test and operate satellites.

“This test campaign is a concerted effort to deliver top-of-the-line laser communications capabilities for Greece and advance its place as a fully-fledged player in Europe’s space ecosystem,” said Frederic Rouesnel, Greek National Telecommunications Satellites Programme Manager at the European Space Agency. “Mastering laser communications on compact satellites is a bold step towards next-gen constellation applications for the Greek Connectivity Programme.”

“PeakSat’s launch with Transporter-16 marks a significant milestone for SpaceDot, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and Prisma Electronics. The mission will demonstrate in-orbit optical communications with the Holomondas Optical Ground Station, developed at AUTH with the Laboratory of Theoretical Mechanics and Astronomy. Delivered end-to-end by student engineers and researchers, PeakSat shows how effective industry–academia collaboration can translate ambitious research goals into flight-ready capability,” said Panagiotis Vamvakas, PeakSat Project Manager at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. “With Astrolight’s ATLAS-1 optical terminal and key subsystems developed in-house – including the on-board computer and the communications board – PeakSat is ready to begin its operational phase in orbit.”

The state-of-the-art laser communications testing capabilities are central to Greece’s space strategy, enabling secure connectivity and high-speed data transfer for scientific, governmental and commercial applications.

13 Feb 2026

The MICE-1 and PHASMA Greek CubeSat missions supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) have begun their in-orbit activities, a key milestone in their launch and early operations phase.

The two missions were launched into Sun Synchronous Orbit on 28 November 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-15 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, USA. Joining DUTHSat-2 in orbit, MICE-1 and PHASMA are part of the Greek National Small Satellite Programme implemented by ESA on behalf of the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance. The three missions are part of a larger endeavour to launch a total of seven Greek missions, which will culminate with four additional CubeSat missions in 2026.

The Greek IOD/IOV CubeSat programme falls under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan ‘Greece 2.0’ funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), a core programme of the European Union’s NextGenerationEU. The RRF aims to strengthen Greece’s technological capabilities in areas such as secure connectivity and Earth observation, while fostering the country’s presence in the global space community.

MICE-1 and PHASMA are the latest addition to this effort. The satellites are operated by PRISMA Electronics and the Libre Space Foundation respectively. During the critical launch and operations phase, both teams work to verify spacecraft health, gradually activating onboard systems. Following launch, the operators successfully established contact with all spacecrafts and verified their response to commands – enabling the teams to safely progress through the commissioning of key functions and transition towards routine operations.

PHASMA is composed of two satellites, LAMARR and DIRAC, equipped with a SatNOGS-COMMS transceiver and a payload antenna used to monitor radio frequency activity in UHF and S-bands before sending the measurements to the ground stations. By combining measurements from the two satellites with their orbital positioning, operators will be able to determine the location of the signals, particularly whether they are originating from Earth or from space. With this information, the Libre Space Foundation team will be able to quantify global spectrum usage and identify potential sources of interference or violations.

The Maritime Identification and Communication systEm-1 (MICE-1), developed by Prisma Electronics S.A. with the support of the Democritus University of Thrace, is a 3U CubeSat focused on enhancing maritime tracking activities in the Mediterranean Sea.  MICE-1 hosts an antenna and receiver to track Automated Identification System (AIS) signals broadcast by seafaring vessels, extending maritime tracking coverage into remote areas. In addition, the mission establishes communication with ships equipped with PRISMA Electronics’ LAROS system. LAROS supports the diagnosis and early warning for structural, environmental and energy footprint assessment of maritime assets.

The remaining four ESA-supported missions of the seven  planned since  2023, are planned to be launched in 2026: ERMIS (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), OptiSat (Planetek Hellas), PeakSat (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) and Hellenic Space Dawn (EMTech SPACE). Together, the seven missions will contribute to expanding Greece’s space ambitions with practical know-how in satellite building, launch and operations to take on a growing place in the European space ecosystem.

“ESA and the Hellenic Ministry for Digital Governance are building a bold foundation for Greece’s future in space,” said Frederic Rouesnel, Greek National Telecom Satellites Programme Manager at the European Space Agency. “Each mission in the programme is another milestone in the new space race, expanding Greece’s ability to design, assemble, test, operate and leverage satellites – both independently and in collaboration with the rest of the European space ecosystem. We will continue building up speed towards this ambitious future in space in the months to come.”

21 Dec 2025

Civil and structural work has been completed on the Hellenic Assembly, Integration and Testing Facility (HAITF), implemented by ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications in collaboration with the Hellenic Aerospace Industry S.A. (HAI) on behalf of the Hellenic Government. This milestone comes after the successful launches for the Greek Satellite Connectivity Programme on Transporter-15 and puts the facility on track for its commissioning and acceptance, with operational target by the second quarter of 2026.

The infrastructure that will house the brand-new facility has been completed to the rigorous specifications of satellite Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) activities, with support from the main subcontractor, BCT Group. The AIT facility’s spatial configuration and structure have been designed to support the demanding operational requirements of satellite assembly, with purpose-built floors, load-bearing structures and overhead cranes. Furthermore, the room partitions, finishes, interfaces, systems & utility networks for the environmental controls constituting the ISO 8-compliant cleanroom have also been installed. In the coming weeks, installation of the remaining lighting, electrical distribution, and grounding infrastructure will proceed at pace to bring the cleanroom to operational standards.

This Hellenic AIT facility is being built to further support the role of Greece in the European space landscape. The HAITF will boost the design and manufacture of the next generation of Greek satellites, from subsystem integration to environmental qualification. The facility’s core capabilities will be enabled by two thermal vacuum chambers (TVAC) provided by Angelantoni Test Technologies, and a 125kN-rated Vibration Test System (shaker) provided by the IMV Corporation. Highlighting the rapid progress of development of the facility, IMV Corporation’s shaker system successfully passed its Factory Acceptance Stage in November 2025, validating its performance within HAITF’s strict specification requirements. Both TVAC and shaker components are expected to be installed in February 2026.

As part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0”, the Hellenic AIT facility project is funded by the European Union through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and implemented by ESA on behalf of the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance. The HAITF project was launched in November 2023 with the objective to design, build, and operate a fully functional Assembly, Integration and Testing infrastructure at HAI’s site in Schimatari. The implementation began in early 2025, targeting full installation by the first half of 2026, with site acceptance tests scheduled for no earlier than March 2026. The timeline demonstrates the momentum of the programme towards delivering modern high-performance facilities supporting advanced AIT capabilities for the Greek space industry.

“2025 has counted milestone after milestone for the Greek Connectivity Programme,” said Frédéric Rouesnel, Greek Connectivity RRF Project Manager at ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications. “The completion of the building housing the brand-new Hellenic AIT facility will boost Greece’s role in the European space landscape and open the doors for talent and expertise to grow locally with new jobs and projects throughout the value chain. Already, HAITF has shown Greece’s expertise to develop and produce highly rated facilities to enable  its growing role in the end-to-end European industrial resilience, strategic autonomy, collaboration and know-how.”