Terran Orbital, a global leader in satellite-based solutions primarily serving the aerospace and defense sectors, announced that its subsidiary, Tyvak International, has signed a contract with the European Space Agency to develop Farinella, a 6U CubeSat that will support ESA’s RAMSES planetary defense mission to the near-Earth asteroid Apophis.
The CubeSat is named after Italian scientist Paolo Farinella and is backed by the Italian Space Agency. After completing the Critical Design Review in January 2026, Tyvak International will begin the implementation phase, with launch currently planned for 2028.
The RAMSES mission will study Apophis during its close approach to Earth on April 13, 2029, when the asteroid will pass closer than geostationary orbit. This event offers a rare chance for scientists to observe how Earth’s gravity may affect the structure and behavior of an asteroid, helping improve models used to understand and reduce planetary defense risks.
Operating aboard the RAMSES spacecraft, developed by OHB Italia, the Farinella CubeSat will be one of two spacecraft deployed to explore the asteroid’s subsurface using low-frequency radar. The satellite will also carry Horus, an optical instrument that acts as both a science imager and navigation camera, and Vista, a dust detector previously flown on the Milani CubeSat from ESA’s Hera mission.
Tyvak International will lead a European consortium of companies and universities supporting the mission, building on its experience developing advanced small satellites for deep-space missions.
“Planetary defense is an area where international collaboration and technological innovation are essential,” said Peter Krauss, CEO of Terran Orbital. “Through Tyvak International, Terran Orbital is proud to support the European Space Agency’s RAMSES mission and contribute advanced small-satellite capabilities that will help us better understand near-Earth asteroids and strengthen global efforts to protect our planet.”
The Farinella mission expands on Tyvak International’s previous deep-space projects, including the Milani CubeSat developed for ESA’s Hera mission, and highlights the increasing role of small satellites in complex scientific and exploration missions.
Click here to know more about European Space Agency's RAMSES mission
