SATLANTIS presented ELCANO, its new generation of FlexSat satellites, designed to transform Earth observation by integrating multiple sensors and advanced capabilities into a single platform.
The launch took place at the Spanish Navy Headquarters in Madrid, during an event attended by institutional authorities, representatives from the space and defence sectors and SATLANTIS executives.
FlexSat technology enables a single satellite to cover up to 400 kilometres of non-linear territory in one minute and carry out missions that, using conventional Earth observation solutions, could require up to 40 satellites or 40 days of operation.
Juan Tomás Hernani, CEO of SATLANTIS, explained that “the company aims to combine a historical perspective with a vision of the present and the future.” He added that these five satellites “introduce a new technology and a new perspective from space,” enabling solutions to “real-world challenges faced by both citizens and the Armed Forces.”
Captain (Navy) Carlos Posada Novoa, member of the Institute of Naval History and Culture, described SATLANTIS as “a benchmark company in the field of Earth Observation, whose activity represents an outstanding example of technological innovation, regional industrial capability and Spain’s capacity to address the new challenges of the space domain.”
He also highlighted the significance of naming the new satellite generation ELCANO, noting that it “is closely linked to one of the Spanish Navy’s most iconic symbols,” and stated that “both represent platforms through which Spain projects knowledge and capabilities into new frontiers.”
Rafael Echevarrieta, grandson of Horacio Echevarrieta – the shipbuilder responsible for the Juan Sebastián de Elcano training ship – also paid tribute to his grandfather with a brief address.
Ignacio Mares, SATLANTIS Group Global Business Director, together with Aitor Conde, Chief Technology Officer, presented the company’s evolution and key technological milestones achieved over recent years. Alejandro Barraza, Director of International Business & Marketing, and Jon Paul Babio, Head of Space Systems, introduced the new ELCANO satellite family and outlined the company’s latest innovations in Earth Observation technologies.
The event concluded with remarks by Admiral Gonzalo Sanz Alisedo, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy, who emphasized SATLANTIS’ technological capabilities, the strength of Spain’s industrial ecosystem and the company’s contribution to national security and defence. He stressed that, in the current geopolitical context, the project “takes on its full significance” providing enhanced situational awareness, supporting decision-making processes and ultimately helping protect national interests.
The ELCANO satellite family will begin deployment in 2027 with several mission configurations designed to meet the specific operational requirements of each customer.
The programme takes its name from Juan Sebastián Elcano, whose first circumnavigation of the globe symbolized humanity’s ability to push beyond known boundaries and open new horizons. More than five centuries later, that same pioneering spirit now extends into space as the new frontier for observation, intelligence and knowledge.
ELCANO consolidates capabilities that traditionally required entire satellite constellations into a single spacecraft. Powered by SATLANTIS’ proprietary FlexSat technology, it can image up to 400 kilometres of non-linear territory in just one minute, enabling missions equivalent to those that would currently require up to 40 satellites or 40 days of operations.
Its unique multi-payload architecture enables the simultaneous integration of high-resolution imaging, video, near-infrared (NIR), thermal imaging, polarimetry and Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capabilities on a single satellite platform.
These capabilities support a broad range of applications, including defence, homeland security, border surveillance, maritime domain awareness, emergency response and environmental monitoring, delivering strategic intelligence with greater speed, flexibility and operational autonomy.
ELCANO incorporates payloads developed in-house by SATLANTIS, including the iSIM-90 and iSIM-170 optical cameras, as well as CASPER, the company’s next-generation thermal observation telescope.
These technologies are backed by more than ten years of research and development, eight successful flight missions and a further twenty missions scheduled over the next two years.
ELCANO is being developed at SATLANTIS facilities in Leioa and Astrabudua, strengthening the Basque Country’s industrial ecosystem while fostering highly specialized engineering talent.
The company’s fast-track solution integrates the space segment, ground segment, operator training and technology transfer into a single offering, enabling governments and institutional customers to rapidly develop sovereign Earth Observation capabilities and independent data exploitation capacity.
SATLANTIS manages an end-to-end value chain spanning optical, mechanical and electronic design, software development, data processing, system integration and on-orbit operations. Its ITAR-free architecture and fully traceable supply chain significantly reduce external dependencies and geopolitical risk.
Following the event, SATLANTIS and the Juan Sebastián de Elcano Foundation [fundación Buque Escuela de la Armada “Juan Sebastián de Elcano”] signed a sponsorship agreement coinciding with the training ship’s centenary celebrations, further strengthening institutional cooperation in the technological and strategic domains.
The agreement was signed by Admiral Gonzalo Sanz Alisedo, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy, and Juan Tomás Hernani, CEO of SATLANTIS.
In the news:
Agencia EFE – Satlantis presenta su generación de satélites Elcano de observación avanzada de la Tierra
Actualidad Aeroespacial – Satlantis presenta ELCANO, una nueva generación de satélites FlexSAT
ATALAYAR – Satlantis quiere descifrar el lenguaje de la luz y ser referente global con sus satélites Elcano
Avion Revue – SATLANTIS presenta ELCANO, su nueva generación de satélites Flexsat
Dinero Más Seguro – Satlantis presenta sus satélites Elcano
El Mundo Empresarial – Satlantis presenta la generación de satélites Elcano para la observación avanzada de la Tierra
Estrategia Empresarial – Satlantis se coloca en la vanguardia espacial gracias al programa Arrakihs
El Periódico – La Armada combinará su flota de buques con una flota de satélites para vigilancia y combate
Europa Press – ELCANO, la nueva generación de satélites de Satlantis, multiplica por 40 la eficiencia de la observación de la Tierra
El Español – Satlantis promete multiplicar por 40 la eficacia de la observación de la Tierra con sus nuevos satélites ‘Elcano’
Escudo Digital – SATLANTIS conquista Defensa para competir con los gigantes europeos del espacio
Fly News – SATLANTIS presenta su nueva familia de satélites ELCANO
Infodefensa – Satlantis firma con la Armada el patrocinio del buque insignia Juan Sebastián Elcano
Infodefensa [Entrevista] – https://www.infodefensa.com/texto-diario/mostrar/5946520/juan-tomas-hernani-satlantis-impacto-constelacion-elcano-tiene-muchisimo-ver-utilizacion-contextos-operacionales-mar-tierra
Infobae – Satlantis presenta su generación de satélites Elcano de observación avanzada de la Tierra
KCH FM – ELCANO: el nuevo satélite que multiplica por 40 la eficiencia en observación terrestre
Notimérica – ELCANO, la nueva generación de satélites de Satlantis, multiplica por 40 la eficiencia de la observación de la Tierra
Teleprensa – ELCANO, la nueva generación de satélites de Satlantis, multiplica por 40 la eficiencia de la observación de la Tierra
