IRIDE

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IRIDE
Mission type Earth observation
Operator ASI, ESA
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer Argotec (MS2-HEO)
OHB Italia (MS1-EAGLET2)
SITAEL S.p.A (HYP-PLATINO)
Thales Alenia Space (SAR-NIMBUS & VHR-NIMBUS)
D-Orbit (SAR-NOX)
Launch mass70 kg (150 lb) (MS2-HEO)
580 kg (1,280 lb) (SAR-NOX)
Start of mission
Launch dateFirst: 14 January 2025 (IRIDE-MS2-HEO 1)
Last (recent): 23 June 2025 (IRIDE-MS2-HEO 2-6,8,9)
Rocket Falcon 9 Block 5
Vega-C
Launch site Vandenberg, SLC-4E
Kourou, ELV
Contractor SpaceX
Arianespace/Avio
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Sun-synchronous orbit

IRIDE (Italian: Iniziativi di Resilienza per l'Italia Dalle Emergenze, Initiatives for Italy's Resilience from Emergencies) is an Italian Earth observation satellite programme developed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the National Complementary Plan (NCP). Coordinated by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI), IRIDE aims to establish a comprehensive satellite constellation for environmental monitoring, disaster management, civil protection, security, and public administration support. The programme, involving over 73 Italian companies, is set to be fully operational by June 2026 and is designed as a "constellation of constellations" with advanced sensor technologies. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Satellite Technologies

IRIDE's constellation is built on multiple platforms, enabling high-revisit rates, all-weather/day-night imaging, and versatile applications:

1) Hawk for Earth observation (HEO) platform, developed by Argotec involved in manufacturing 25 IRIDE satellites. [4]

2) EAGLET2 platform, developed by OHB Italia involved in manufacturing 24 IRIDE satellites. [5]

3) PLATINO bus, developed by SITAEL S.p.A with Hyperspectral Imaging payloads from Leonardo involved in manufacturing 5 IRIDE Satellites. [6]

4) NIMBUS platform, developed by Thales Alenia Space involved in manufacturing 12 SAR and one VHR IRIDE satellite [7] [8]

5) one IRIDE-SAR-NOX satellite developed by D-Orbit for the IRIDE programme [9] [10]

Launch history

Name SATCAT Launch date (UTC)Launch vehicleOrbital apsisInclinationPeriod (min)Status
IRIDE-MS2-HEO 1 [11] [12] [13] 6269714 January 2025 Falcon 9 Block 5

Transporter-12

98°Operational
IRIDE-MS2-HEO 2 [14] 6456923 June 2025 Falcon 9 Block 5

Transporter-14

Operational
IRIDE-MS2-HEO 364568Operational
IRIDE-MS2-HEO 464582Operational
IRIDE-MS2-HEO 564571Operational
IRIDE-MS2-HEO 664576Operational
IRIDE-MS2-HEO 864587Operational
IRIDE-MS2-HEO 964585Operational
IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 1 [15] 26 November 2025 Falcon 9 Block 5

Transporter-15 [16]

Planned
IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 2Planned
IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 3Planned
IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 4Planned
IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 5Planned
IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 6Planned
IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 7Planned
IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 8Planned

See also

References

  1. ↑ "IRIDE". www.telespazio.com. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  2. ↑ "Moving ahead with Italy's constellation of Earth observation satellites". www.esa.int. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  3. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (14 April 2025). "Italy Moves Ahead With Study for 100-Satellite Constellation". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  4. ↑ "IRIDE-MS2-HEO 1,..., 25". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  5. ↑ "IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 1,..., 25". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "IRIDE-HYP-PLATINO 1,..., 5". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  7. ↑ "IRIDE-SAR-NIMBUS 1,..., 12". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "IRIDE-VHR-NIMBUS 1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  9. ↑ "IRIDE-SAR-NOX 1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  10. ↑ "ESA orders 6 additional radar-based satellites to Thales Alenia Space for IRIDE Earth observation constellation | Thales Alenia Space". www.thalesaleniaspace.com. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  11. ↑ "Italy's IRIDE programme marks major step with first satellite constellation". www.esa.int. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (28 March 2025). "Italy's IRIDE Pathfinder Satellite Beams Back First Views of Earth". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  13. ↑ "Falcon 9 Block 5 | Transporter 12". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  14. ↑ "Falcon 9 Block 5 | Transporter 14". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  15. ↑ "Falcon 9 Block 5 | Transporter 15". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "Watch: HydroGNSS, IRIDE and Greek mission satellites launch". www.esa.int. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
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