SpaceX Successfully Launches Three Greek Nanosatellites

The Greek nanosatellites are now orbiting the Earth. Credit: NASA

In a historic step for Greece’s space program, three Greek-made nanosatellites were successfully launched into space on Monday. The satellites were carried by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the United States, with the launch and the rocket’s successful upright landing broadcast live to a global audience.

Developed by the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), the three ERMIS satellites are now entering a Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles).

The ERMIS mission: A new era for Greek tech
The ERMIS Hellenic Cubesat Demonstration Mission is designed to validate cutting-edge, homegrown technologies. Key objectives of the mission include:

5G & IoT connectivity: Testing satellite-based 5G communications for the Internet of Things
Hyperspectral imaging: Utilizing high-precision cameras (5m resolution) for national interests, such as smart agriculture
Inter-satellite links: Developing the ability for satellites to communicate directly with one another in orbit
Laser communications: Establishing a ground-breaking optical link with the Helmos Ground Station in Greece.