The first Greek satellite to bear the national flag has been successfully launched into orbit. The DUTHSat-2- developed under Greece’s National Microsatellite Programme- blasted off from the Vandenberg base in California at 23:30 (Greek time) on Monday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The launch was part of SpaceX’s Transporter-14 mission, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). Weighing 7kg, DUTHSat-2 travelled for about an hour alongside other small satellites before being deployed into a 510km sun-synchronous orbit.
Designed by a research team at the Democritus University of Thrace, in collaboration with Greek tech companies, the satellite will now undergo a commissioning phase. Within six months, it is expected to demonstrate Earth observation capabilities and secure connectivity via advanced telemetry systems.
A tool for science, safety and sustainability
Equipped with optical cameras and telecom modules, the first Greek satellite will monitor soil moisture and marine pollution, including oil spills and ballast water discharge. It also includes an innovative “black box” system (ETM – Essential Telemetry and Housekeeping), offering real-time diagnostics even in case of subsystem failures.
The launch marks a step forward in Greece’s efforts to build an independent space technology ecosystem and expand its crisis response tools. “This is just the beginning,” said Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou. “Our National Microsatellite Programme strengthens critical sectors like civil protection, environmental monitoring, and secure communication.”
A growing national space strategy
The DUTHSat-2 mission is part of a broader national strategy aiming to integrate space technology into disaster response, environmental tracking and digital infrastructure. According to the Ministry’s statement, two additional Greek cubesats are expected to launch by November.
Funded through the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, the programme brings together universities, research centres, companies and government institutions, establishing Greece as an active player in European space policy.
Also read: ON THIS DAY: the first woman in space (1963)
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