Italy's Fucino Space Centre Chosen as Hub for EU's Iris2 Satellite Project

Inno Flores, Tech Times 04 March 2024, 11:03 pm

Fucino Space Centre of Italy is slated to become the central control hub for the European Union's Iris2 satellite project. The center will expand its operations to oversee the IRIS2 satellite constellation, competing with initiatives like Starlink and Kuiper.

(Photo : Telepazio)

A pole of excellence with over fifty years of history: in 2018 it received the prestigious full certification assigned by the World Teleport Association. Telespazio's "Piero Fanti" Space Centre in Fucino (L'Aquila) has been active since 1963 and today, with its 170 antennas and 370,000 square metres, it is recognized as the first and most important teleport in the world for civilian use.

Serving as Central Hub for EU's IRIS2

Italy has been designated as the primary hub for the European Union's Iris2 satellite project, with the country's space center set to serve as the project's main control center. Adolfo Urso, Italy's industry minister announced that the Fucino Space Centre, situated near L'Aquila, will fulfill this crucial role.

Interesting Engineering reported that the Fucino Space Centre is renowned as one of the world's largest and most important civilian space facilities.

Currently, it oversees the operations of the European Galileo satellite navigation system and hosts both the Control Centre and the Mission Centre for the COSMO-SkyMed Earth observation satellite constellation.

Urso unveiled plans to expand the Fucino Space Centre to serve as the control hub for the IRIS² satellite constellation, positioning it as a contender against Elon Musk's Starlink and Jeff Bezos' Kuiper initiatives.

IRIS2: Europe's Satellite Revolution

The IRIS2 project entails a network of 170 satellites aimed at bolstering communication capabilities for European Union governments and introducing commercial broadband services to underserved regions between 2025 and 2027.

Spanning 21,000 square meters, the facility is equipped to accommodate large satellites and aims to produce two 200-kilogram satellites per week, contingent upon customer demand, according to Massimo Comparini, head of Telespazio's Italian operations.

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Telespazio, which holds ownership of the Fucino Centre, is jointly controlled by Leonardo and France's Thales, with a 67 percent and 33 percent stake, respectively.

Luigi Pasquali, CEO of Telespazio, highlighted the significance of IRIS2 as critical infrastructure for the nation, enabling various operations essential for national security.

Franco Ongaro, the Chief Space Business Officer at Leonardo, hailed IRIS² as the definitive solution to Europe's evolving telecom landscape. He emphasized its importance in bridging the digital gap and positioning Italy as a leader in technological sovereignty within Europe.

Ongaro highlighted IRIS² as Europe's response to the rising prominence of low-Earth-orbit constellations in telecommunications.

The Iris2 multi-orbit satellite internet constellation is set to revolutionize broadband coverage, particularly in rural areas, marking a significant step towards eliminating digital disparities across Europe.

Urso underscored the substantial impact of the €50 million investment on local employment and technological progress. He emphasized that the expansion of the Space Centre, driven by IRIS², will not only double the current workforce but also create at least 200 new job opportunities.