Satlantis- a Leading Innovator in Space Exploration
By Deborah Holmén, M.Ed., NBCT
Satlantis has made a name for itself as a leading innovator in the Earth Observation (EO) and space exploration sector, having developed groundbreaking technologies from satellite cameras to
methane detection devices.
In recent years, the company has been at the forefront of a new wave of space technology, striving to create more efficient and effective resources to study several phenomena on the Earth’s surface.
“The company’s work began with developing multispectral cameras for satellites,” said Aitor Morinigo, Executive Vice President of Satlantis. “Once the company successfully flew three significant space missions for each stage of our cameras, we knew the applications of our high-resolution images were vast.”
Developing Cutting Edge Cameras and Satellites
Satlantis satellite cameras are incredibly advanced tools that aid in detecting and monitoring changes and developments on the surface of the Earth. These cameras capture high-resolution imagery from remarkable distances and are among the most advanced products in space technology. Satlantis cameras have unique 
technical features, such as an optical design that saves mass and volume with high customization possibilities.
The highly detailed images provided by Satlantis satellite cameras make them a valuable tool for a wide range of applications, from environmental monitoring to urban planning.
“The camera, integrated Standard Imager for Microsatellites (iSIM), was designed to be used on a satellite orbiting the Earth. It can capture high-resolution images of Earth’s surface so a various range of applications, such as methane detection or precision agriculture, can be developed on top of it,” Morinigo said.
The camera is the first of its kind and is expected to revolutionize the Earth Observation field.
The inception of iSIM is rooted in astronomy. Rafael Guzmán, CTO and founder of Satlantis, initially came up with the iSIM design as a telescope that aimed to study the dark matter in the universe. He then realized that the very same concept could be used to take high-resolution images of Earth, unlocking a world of applications –– and serving a completely new market.
Satlantis, a Spain-based company, receives funding through both private and public investors and stakeholders. The company is also receiving substantial support from the UF Innovate incubator, helping to broaden their scope of development, especially in the US.
From the International Space Station and Beyond
According to Morinigo, Satlantis has developed methane detection technologies, which have been used to measure and monitor methane gas emissions from sources such as natural gas production, pipelines and landfills.
“Knowing the high impact that methane emissions and leaks have on the environment, as one of the main contributors to the climate change issue, this technology has been developed to track those unwanted emissions and keep them accountable,” Morinigo said.
Satlantis has already received significant interest from the scientific community and is working with several institutions to further develop the camera and its capabilities. The company is also in talks to collaborate with several international space agencies.
Satlantis has been collaborating with the European Space Agency (ESA), helping to create amazing technologies for space exploration. One such project is the ESA’s fast mission, called ARRAKIHS, or Analysis of Resolved Remnants of Accreted galaxies as a Key Instrument for Halo Surveys. A Fast mission is one that is designed to be completed quickly and efficiently, typically focused on a specific goal or objective in the fields of scientific research and technology development.
The ARRAKIHS mission is proposed by the ESA to study the remnants of accreted galaxies in order to better understand the formation and evolution of galaxies.
Morinigo said, “The mission’s main objective is to study dark matter in the universe that, according to different cosmological observables, could be up to five times more abundant than ordinary matter. Due to its properties, its direct detection is very complex and, for now, we are only aware of its existence through its gravitational effects.”
Satlantis will contribute to the ESA program with an adapted design of its iSIM-170 binocular telescope that will incorporate both visible and infrared channels.
“Our cameras will make it possible to image one hundred galaxies like the Milky Way, reaching a surface brightness five to 100 times deeper than the best images taken from ground-based observatories,” said Morinigo.
The ARRAKIHS mission is currently in the planning stages and is expected to launch in the mid-2020s.
The future of Satlantis looks bright, and the company is excited to be making strides in developing cutting-edge technology. It is just one of the many startups working to revolutionize the way science is done.