Alén Space develops the maritime communications payloads for the Spanish component of the Atlantic Constellation

Alén Space is participating in the development of the Spanish component of the Atlantic Constellation (ESCA), a strategic initiative promoted by the Spanish Space Agency (AEE) and technically managed by the European Space Agency (ESA). The project recently announced that it has successfully passed the Critical Design Review (CDR), a key milestone marking the beginning of the production phase for the satellites and their payloads.

Alén Space is responsible for the design and manufacturing of the AIS (Automatic Identification System) payloads, aimed at deploying new maritime communications and monitoring capabilities from space. The Spanish company’s work includes the development of the engineering model (EM) and the first flight model (FM), as well as the serial production of eight additional flight units (including one spare), which will be integrated into the constellation satellites.

As prime contractor, Open Cosmos is leading the development of the Spanish component of the Atlantic Constellation, consisting of eight identical small satellites weighing approximately 100 kilograms each. These platforms will integrate different observation and monitoring capabilities, including VNIR, AIS, IoT and GNSS-R payloads.

Overall, the Atlantic Constellation will consist of 16 coordinated satellites between Spain and Portugal, designed to strengthen Europe’s Earth observation capabilities and provide high-revisit frequency data over the territory and maritime environment. This initiative will complement existing operational systems such as the Sentinel satellites of the European Copernicus programme.

Proprietary maritime communications technology

Alén Space’s contribution focuses on the AIS payloads, based on its TOTEM software defined radio (SDR) technology, which includes the specific frontend for receiving AIS signals in the VHF band and the implementation of the application required for the operation of the system.

Among the expected applications of this technology are global ship tracking across open oceans and remote areas; support for search and rescue (SAR) operations; real-time cargo monitoring; and maritime surveillance for the control of illegal fishing and the detection of illicit activities.

In addition to AIS capabilities, the constellation will enable advanced Earth observation services focused on emergency management, environmental monitoring and territorial protection, including applications related to forest fires, floods, and volcanic eruptions.

Boosting Spanish industrial capabilities

Participation in the Spanish component of the Atlantic Constellation strengthens Alén Space’s position as a communications payload provider for small satellites and represents a significant step forward in the evolution of its AIS technology, supporting its progressive industrialisation and consolidation as a standardised product within the company’s portfolio.

This project is also aligned with recent developments by Alén Space, such as the SATMAR mission, promoted by Puertos del Estado and focused on the in-orbit validation of new maritime communications capabilities based on the VDES (VHF Data Exchange System) standard.

Through this initiative, the company contributes to strengthening Spanish industrial capabilities in the space sector and to the deployment of strategic infrastructure for territorial and maritime environment monitoring.