Open Cosmos launched its first two proprietary low Earth orbit (LEO) telecommunications satellites on January 22, marking the initial on-orbit validation phase of a planned multi-satellite constellation. The spacecraft deployed into a 1,050 km circular orbit following launch aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, on a mission titled The Cosmos Will See You Now.
The launch moved Open Cosmos from constellation design and manufacturing into operational testing, coming one week after the company secured high-priority Ka-band spectrum filings via Liechtenstein. With the satellites now in orbit, Open Cosmos will begin validating system performance, satellite operations, and network architecture under real operational conditions, laying the groundwork for phased constellation deployment.
Open Cosmos said the satellites reflect a pan-European development effort spanning the UK, Spain, Portugal, and Greece, and demonstrate the company’s vertically integrated approach from mission design through operations. The spacecraft will operate under Spain’s regulatory framework for satellite registration and licensing, supporting government, institutional, and commercial use cases tied to secure connectivity and Earth monitoring.
- Two satellites deployed into a 1,050 km circular LEO orbit
- Launch conducted on Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from New Zealand
- First activation phase of Open Cosmos’ planned LEO telecom constellation
- Launch followed award of high-priority Ka-band spectrum filings
- Initial in-orbit activities include operations testing, system validation, and constellation proof-of-concept
“This launch is a major milestone for Open Cosmos and a critical step in our mission to provide secure, sovereign connectivity for Europe and the world,” said Rafel Jordà Siquier, Founder and CEO of Open Cosmos. “Moving from spectrum to satellites in-orbit demonstrates not only the maturity of our system, but our ability to turn strategic ambition into operational capability extremely fast.”
🌐 Analysis
Open Cosmos’ rapid progression from spectrum authorization to in-orbit assets highlights intensifying competition among emerging European LEO constellation developers seeking sovereign connectivity options alongside larger global systems. The launch also underscores Rocket Lab’s continued role as a go-to provider for dedicated small-satellite missions, reinforcing its position as LEO constellation activity accelerates across government and commercial markets.
Open Cosmos is a UK-based satellite company headquartered at Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, focused on building and operating small satellites to deliver Earth-observation, communications, and data-driven space services. Founded in 2015 by Rafel Jordà, a former Airbus Defence and Space engineer, the company’s mission is to make space accessible by providing turnkey satellite missions and, more recently, scalable low-Earth-orbit (LEO) constellation services. Open Cosmos’ core technology centers on modular smallsat platforms, in-house mission operations, and integrated payload hosting, enabling faster deployment and lower mission risk for institutional and commercial customers. The company has expanded from a pure manufacturer to a vertically integrated operator, marked by milestones including multiple successful satellite launches for European customers and the first deployments of its proprietary LEO telecom constellation following Ka-band spectrum awards. Privately held and venture-backed, Open Cosmos works with a range of launch providers, component suppliers, and government and commercial partners across Europe, positioning itself as a long-term satellite communications and space-data infrastructure provider.
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