Simera Sense, a leading European provider of optical payload solutions for small satellites, has been selected by Telespazio Ibérica to supply eight MultiScape100 Earth observation imagers for the Canary Islands Satellite Constellation, a landmark regional space program commissioned by the Tenerife Island Council. The Canary Islands Satellite Constellation represents one of the most ambitious Earth observation initiatives undertaken by a regional government in Europe.
Led by Telespazio Ibérica as prime contractor, the program will establish a dedicated constellation of satellites designed to support environmental monitoring, emergency response, territorial management, maritime domain awareness and sustainable economic development across the Canary Islands. The MultiScape100 combines high-resolution imaging and multispectral data collection in a compact, low-mass design optimized for modern small satellite missions. Capturing imagery across multiple spectral bands enables users to derive deeper environmental insights than traditional panchromatic imaging alone, supporting applications such as vegetation health monitoring, wildfire detection, water resource management, coastal monitoring and land-use analysis.
“The selection of the eight multispectral cameras marks another step forward in the development of the Canary Islands Constellation,” said Carlos Fernández de la Peña, CEO of Telespazio Ibérica. “Our priority is to ensure that each element of the system contributes to a reliable Earth observation capability that can support decision-making, emergency response and sustainable territorial management across the archipelago.”
The space segment will be delivered by AVS Added Value Solutions, whose satellite platforms will host eight Simera Sense MultiScape100 multispectral imagers across the operational constellation. Three imagers will be integrated on each of the first two satellites, with two imagers flying on the third operational spacecraft. This multi-imager configuration significantly increases the overall swath width and collection capacity of the constellation, enabling broader area coverage during each pass while maintaining the high image quality required for operational Earth observation applications. Combined with the constellation architecture, the system will deliver frequent revisit opportunities and rapid access to critical information when time-sensitive events occur. The constellation will provide valuable information products for a wide range of users, including emergency response teams, environmental agencies, researchers, infrastructure operators and commercial organizations. The ability to rapidly task satellites and revisit areas of interest will be particularly valuable for monitoring dynamic events such as wildfires, volcanic activity, severe weather systems, coastal changes and other natural hazards affecting the archipelago.
“This program demonstrates how advanced Earth observation capabilities can be placed directly in the hands of regional decision-makers,” said Thys Cronje, Chief Commercial Officer at Simera Sense. “As a European payload provider, we are proud to support Telespazio Ibérica and AVS on a mission that combines technological innovation with tangible societal impact. The MultiScape100 was designed to deliver high-quality multispectral imagery from compact satellite platforms and the Canary Islands Constellation is an excellent example of how these capabilities can help governments and organizations make faster, better-informed decisions to protect communities, infrastructure and natural resources.”
The constellation is expected to consist of an initial technology demonstrator followed by three operational satellites in low Earth orbit. Once fully deployed, the system will provide a continuous stream of Earth observation data to support both institutional and commercial users. The project forms part of the broader Tenerife Space Horizon initiative, which seeks to strengthen the region’s aerospace ecosystem, create highly skilled employment opportunities, and establish the Canary Islands as a strategic hub for space technology and Earth observation services. For Simera Sense, the selection further expands the company’s growing footprint in the European space sector and reinforces its position as a trusted regional and global provider of advanced optical payload solutions for next-generation Earth observation missions in Europe and other markets worldwide.
Click here to learn more about Simera Sense's Satellite Imaging Cameras Listed on SATNow
