IRIDE Pathfinder satellite successfully deployed

IRIDE Pathfinder satellite successfully deployed
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Jan 15, 2025

The first IRIDE satellite, known as the Pathfinder Hawk, has entered orbit following its launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on January 14. This event marks a significant step in advancing Earth observation capabilities.

Designed as a prototype, the Pathfinder Hawk is part of the IRIDE programme's ambitious plan to deploy six distinct satellite constellations. These constellations will provide critical data for environmental monitoring, emergency response, and security operations across Italy. The programme is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Italian Government, leveraging resources from the EU-funded Recovery and Resilience Plan for Italy (PNRR) and Italy's National Complementary Plan.

The European Space Agency (ESA), working closely with the Italian Space Agency (ASI), is tasked with the realization of these constellations. Each constellation incorporates advanced satellite technology, including radar, optical, hyperspectral, and multispectral instruments. The comprehensive IRIDE constellation is scheduled to become fully operational by June 2026.

The Pathfinder Hawk, equipped with a high-resolution imaging instrument, is designed to capture images with a ground resolution of just three metres. This technology is a key component of the Hawk constellation, which is being developed by Italian aerospace firm Argotec. The constellation will support vital applications such as coastal and maritime monitoring, land use analysis, and enhanced emergency response services.

Teodoro Valente, President of ASI, emphasized the significance of this development, stating, "The launch of the Pathfinder Hawk satellite marks a major milestone for the IRIDE programme and for the entire Italian space sector. This satellite is destined to test the path of the IRIDE constellation, a programme that is the result of the strategic vision of the Italian government, which has strongly supported and financed this infrastructure as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, reaffirming the country's commitment to research and innovation."

Simonetta Cheli, ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes, highlighted the collaborative achievement, saying, "Having the Pathfinder Hawk satellite now in orbit marks a very important milestone for the IRIDE programme, which we are proud to be a part of. I'd like to congratulate Argotec on this significant achievement and look forward to seeing the IRIDE system further expand this year."

In the coming weeks, Argotec's Flight Control Team will focus on commissioning and optimizing the Pathfinder satellite to ensure smooth operation for the IRIDE programme. Plans for the Hawk constellation include the deployment of nine additional satellites by the end of 2025, with 15 more to follow by mid-2026.