A tribute that bridges local heritage with aerospace innovation

The space technology company Satlantis, in collaboration with the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and the City Council of Orduña, officially inaugurated the first monument of the initiative “The Footprint of Our Satellite in Bizkaia” on June 6 in Orduña, the birthplace of Juan de Garai.

This groundbreaking project seeks to connect local history with technological innovation through symbolic sculptures that merge the figures of prominent historical Basque individuals with the form of the satellites that now carry their names into space. The newly unveiled sculpture pays homage to Juan de Garai, the explorer who inspired the name of GARAI, Satlantis’s fourth Earth observation satellite.

The monument, located in Orduña, is a visual and conceptual fusion of the explorer’s silhouette and the satellite, designed to reflect the powerful link between memory and innovation.

The event brought together local authorities, institutional representatives, the scientific and academic community, the media, and citizens. Each speaker contributed to the celebration of this unique convergence of past and future:

• Juan Tomás Hernani, CEO of Satlantis, emphasized how Garai’s spirit of exploration inspired the satellite’s name and announced an upcoming educational program to promote STEM vocations among local students.

• Aitor Conde, CTO of Satlantis, presented the satellite’s advanced capabilities, including four optical heads and polarimetric imaging — features that are already generating unprecedented Earth data from orbit.

• Dr. María Jesús Pozas, historian and professor at the University of Deusto, offered a captivating profile of Juan de Garai, highlighting his leadership and vision within his historical context.

• Alain González, architect and designer of the sculpture, explained the metaphor behind the work: a union between human legacy and technological advancement, fully integrated into its natural surroundings.

• Iker Santocildes, Mayor of Orduña, shared the community’s pride in being the birthplace of both the historical figure and the satellite, and relayed a special message from Pablo Bereciartua, Argentina’s Minister of Infrastructure, underlining the global resonance of this tribute.

• Ainara Basurko, Deputy for Economic Promotion at the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, closed the event by underlining the aerospace sector as a strategic opportunity for the territory:
  “May this sculpture remind us that, from a small corner of Bizkaia, great dreams can also be launched.”

This inaugural event marked a celebration of how heritage can shape the future — not just locally, but far beyond our atmosphere.Thank you to all the organizations supporting this initiative and to everyone who joined us — institutional representatives, the scientific and academic community, the media, and citizens.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this initiative and made it possible!