SATCO Project
SATCO Project (RECONFIGURABLE COGNITIVE SATELLITE)
April 2, 2025 - RIR AIR wins the tender for the first
"Made in Veneto" satellite
RIR AIR (Veneto Aerospace Cluster) has won the Veneto Region’s call for research and development projects thanks to SATCO – Reconfigurable Cognitive Satellite, a two-year project that aims to create a new generation of smart satellites.
The project involves six Veneto-based companies and two universities: Qascom, Dwave, Zoppas Industries, Officina Stellare, Stella Project, T4i, the University of Padua, and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
With a total funding of €1.9 million, €1 million of which is a non-repayable grant, the goal is to develop a satellite constellation capable of adapting to the context and providing on-demand services in various sectors: communications even in areas not covered by mobile networks, Earth observation, climate emergency monitoring, maritime and air traffic control, and support for agriculture and the environment.
“Winning this tender is a significant turning point because it brings together Veneto's leading companies that are entering the market with even more advanced services. The AIR Network is making enormous progress, and we are truly proud of it. The network is maturing both in terms of expertise and teamwork, and this result is concrete proof of that. Now we must work to make it happen quickly. The ecosystem we have developed in Veneto, with its wide variety, flexibility, and quality of products and services, is capturing the attention of major players. The new Space Economy is, objectively, a growth driver for the Veneto economic system, not only because of the investments it can activate and attract, but also because of its ability to accelerate research, innovation, training, and therefore employment.”
The first phase of the project will see the construction of a flatsat, a demonstration model of the satellite’s critical systems, which will subsequently lead to the development of the flight-ready satellite.
The SATellite COgnitivo Reconfigurabile (SATCO) project has also reached an important milestone with the completion of the Preliminary Design Review (PDR), paving the way for the development of the first reconfigurable cognitive satellite designed in the Veneto region.
The PDR took place at Officina Stellare, which hosted the project partners: Qascom, Stellar Project, T4i Technology for Propulsion and Innovation, Zoppas Industries Heating Element Technologies, Dwave, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, CISAS Giuseppe Colombo, and the University of Padua. The meeting allowed for the sharing and evaluation of the technologies developed by the various partners, laying the foundation for the preliminary design of the SATCO satellite.
The satellite, designed to adapt to the needs of the mission, will be able to:
- Observing the Earth through photometric measurements;
- Monitor RF signals from space;
- Conduct surveillance on specific events;
- Support disaster relief operations.
- The next step of the project will be to consolidate the technologies and develop a testbed to simulate realistic operational scenarios, bringing SATCO ever closer to its concrete implementation phase.
The SATCO project represents a virtuous example of collaboration between universities, industry, and research centers to bring innovation to the Italian and international space sector.
