NEW SPACE PORTUGAL

What NEW SPACE PORTUGAL does

New Space Portugal is a non-profit consortium headquartered in Matosinhos, Portugal, that serves as the national coordination vehicle for Portugal's civilian and dual-use space program. It aggregates 41 entities — 22 companies led by prime contractor GEOSAT, 18 R&D institutions and universities, and a cluster organization — executing an 11-work-package agenda funded primarily through Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). The consortium operates a small central team of five employees under Executive Director Emir Sirage and Program Manager Carolina Rodrigues, with implementation distributed across the member entities.

The core technological portfolio comprises four planned satellite constellations: the Atlantic Constellation (optical EO), a SAR Constellation partnered with ICEYE, the VDES/Lusíada Constellation for maritime communications, and the Open Constellation. Ground and data-layer infrastructure is consolidated through the Digital Planet platform, which integrates EO data with downstream analytics such as Atlantic SENSE, a climate-resilience service recognized under the UN Ocean Decade. Operational milestones include the PoSat-2 satellite launched in January 2025 and six satellites launched in March 2026 via SpaceX Transporter-16. Technology partners include ICEYE, Satellogic, OHB Sweden, AAC Clyde Space, and Open Cosmos, while AI and data analytics are supported by Neadvance.

The business model is government-funded program coordination rather than commercial revenue generation. Anchor demand comes from the Portuguese Air Force, Portuguese Navy, and Portuguese government entities, with secondary commercial EO data services for government agencies, defense institutions, and select commercial customers. Value capture flows through sovereign data ownership, dual-use mission delivery, and the planned distribution of the Space Entrepreneurship Guide to seed a domestic space start-up ecosystem. No commercial revenue is publicly disclosed, and pricing, contract values, or monetization mechanics for Digital Planet are not transparent.

Name

NEW SPACE PORTUGAL

Legal name

New Space Portugal

Website

https://newspaceportugal.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New Space Portugal is a non-profit, government-funded consortium of 41 Portuguese entities that coordinates the national space program, developing sovereign satellite constellations, the Digital Planet EO data platform, and Atlantic SENSE climate services for the Portuguese military, government, and allied defense and commercial customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Earth Observation Satellite Services

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Satellite Telecommunications (517410), Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM), Military Space Systems (Defense Spacecraft) (IMABACAC), Space Defense & Missile Warning (BPAIAHAF)

Keywords

• Earth observation satellites
• Satellite constellation services
• Maritime satellite communications
• Space data analytics
• Space technology consortium

Headquarters

HQ city

Matosinhos

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Funding (PRR): Funded through Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), supporting the development of satellite constellations, digital infrastructure, and national space capabilities over a decade-long agenda.
2. Earth Observation Data Services: Revenue generation through satellite imagery and data services for government agencies, defense institutions, and commercial customers requiring Earth observation capabilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

New Space Portugal is a non-profit consortium of 41 Portuguese entities, led by GEOSAT and funded through Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), that develops, manufactures, and operates Earth observation satellite constellations — including the Atlantic Constellation (VHR optical and SAR), the Open Constellation, a dedicated SAR Constellation, and the VDES maritime communications Constellation — alongside integrated data platforms (Digital Planet and Atlantic SENSE) for defense, maritime surveillance, and climate resilience applications.

Product overview

New Space Portugal is a consortium of 41 organizations led by GEOSAT, dedicated to designing, developing, producing, and launching Earth Observation satellites. The portfolio consists of multiple satellite constellations (Atlantic Constellation, Open Constellation, SAR Constellation, VDES Constellation) working together with the Digital Planet platform for data integration and the Atlantic SENSE platform for climate resilience. The consortium also provides supporting services including the Earth Observation Guide and Space Entrepreneurship Guide to strengthen the Portuguese space ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Atlantic Constellation: Flagship Earth Observation satellite constellation project of the New Space Portugal Agenda, led by GEOSAT and CEiiA, providing VHR optical and SAR capabilities for Portugal's largest space project.
• Lusíada Constellation
• Digital Planet
• Atlantic SENSE

Products and services

• Atlantic Constellation A multi-satellite Earth observation constellation combining Very High Resolution (VHR) optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites, designed to provide sovereign imaging and maritime surveillance capability for Portugal and its partners.
• Open Constellation An open Earth observation satellite constellation under the New Space Portugal programme, expanding Portugal's sovereign space-based imaging capacity.
• SAR Constellation A dedicated Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite constellation delivering all-weather, day-and-night radar imaging for defense, maritime, and environmental applications.
• VDES Constellation A satellite constellation providing VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) communications for maritime vessel tracking and two-way ship-to-shore / ship-to-ship data exchange beyond legacy AIS.
• Digital Planet A data integration and distribution platform that consolidates Earth observation data from the consortium's constellations and provides it to public-sector, defense, and commercial users.
• Atlantic SENSE A climate resilience analytics platform leveraging the consortium's satellite data to support climate adaptation and environmental monitoring use cases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Six satellites launched in March 2026, including first Portuguese SAR satellite and VHR optical satellite
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GEOSATcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEADER of New Space Portugal agenda. GEOSAT is an Earth Observation company that owns and operates its own high and very high-resolution satellites. Serves as the operator for the Atlantic Satellite Constellation on the Portuguese side and is responsible for agenda management and Digital Planet implementation.
• CEiiAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlays a key role in systems engineering and development of high and very high-resolution satellites for the Atlantic constellation. Involved in procurement, assembly, integration and testing of satellite subsystems. Develops the Digital Planet basic infrastructure and applications.
• Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible for ESA Space Solutions Portugal and ESA Business Incubation Centre programme. Leads WP 8, driving innovation and entrepreneurship activities in the Portuguese space ecosystem. Presented Space Entrepreneurship Guide at Web Summit.
• VdA - Vieira de AlmeidacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal and regulatory partner developing Earth Observation guides and entrepreneurship resources. Led WP9 completion including Earth Observation Guide covering market opportunities, compliance, and EO value chain.
• CoLab +ATLANTICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative Laboratory advancing national scientific and technological system in Space and Ocean fields. Supports definition of HR and VHR components of Atlantic Constellation and develops innovative applications for Digital Planet.
• LusoSpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-tech engineering company designing and developing space systems. Leader of WP11, responsible for VDES Constellation definition, development, production and operation. Integrated PoSat-2 and Lusíada Constellation satellites.
• N3OcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in VHRLight NextGen satellite development with CEiiA and Satellogic. Active consortium member contributing to Atlantic Constellation development and participated in RTP2 Society Civil program.
• AIR CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaborative organization responsible for WP 5, defining user requirements and associated services. Participates in Atlantic Constellation requirements definition and Digital Planet biodiversity monitoring.
• AED Cluster PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCluster of 120+ Portuguese entities in Aeronautics, Space, and Defence. Spearheads WP 6, focusing on training, qualification, and internationalisation in space sector R&D+I.
• Thales EdisoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationResponsible for ground segment system including ground stations for high and very high resolution constellations and SAR. Participates in Earth Observation services for Defence-Security and avionics development.
• GMVcoreTechnology or IntegrationDevelops PDGS system for very high-resolution constellation and Digital Planet climate and emergencies services. Provides positioning, navigation, and communication systems.
• idD Portugal DefencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic company executing sectorial policies for Defence. Leader and responsible for development of SAR - Synthetic Aperture Radar Constellation.
• OmnideacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAerospace company developing propulsion systems, airborne platforms, and advanced manufacturing technologies. Responsible for satellite propulsion system and Engine Test Centre development.
• Academia da Força Aérea (AFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese Air Force Academy contributing to defining technical and operational requirements for systems, validating use cases for security and emergency verticals, and developing space domain training.
• INEGIcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnological institute contributing to Atlantic Constellation technology development including design-oriented manufacturing, materials, light structures, mechanisms, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT)coreTechnology or IntegrationResearch institute developing IoT gateway, ground station for IoT data transmissions, RF Front-End and Antennas for High-Resolution Constellation satellites.
• ISQcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering and testing company carrying out Verification and Validation activities for HR and VRH constellations. Develops EO data and AI services for infrastructure asset management.
• FHPcoreTechnology or IntegrationAerospace company with 15+ years in ESA missions contributing thermal systems, Multi-Layer Insulation, COPVs, and VDES antenna development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Spire Global: Operates a multi-payload satellite constellation for weather, maritime, and aviation data. Comparable to NSP's Lusíada maritime VDES constellation in serving maritime data and analytics customers.

Direct peers

• ICEYE: Operates the world's largest commercial SAR satellite constellation, providing all-weather day/night imagery. Direct peer to NSP's SAR Constellation and Atlantic SAR partnership with Portuguese Air Force.
• Planet Labs: Global leader in daily Earth observation satellite imagery, operating the largest commercial fleet. Direct peer on EO constellation operations and government/defense data services comparable to Atlantic Constellation.
• Capella Space: US-based SAR satellite operator offering all-weather, high-resolution imagery for defense and commercial markets. Direct peer to NSP's SAR Constellation in commercial/governmental SAR data services.
• Satellogic: Operates a high-resolution Earth observation satellite constellation and is a technology partner to NSP via CEiiA for the VHR optical Atlantic Constellation satellite. Comparable as a multi-satellite EO operator targeting government and commercial markets.
• Open Cosmos: UK-based end-to-end small satellite mission provider offering OpenOrbit platform and DataCosmos services — a technology partner to NSP and a comparably-sized European New Space operator targeting government and commercial missions.
• GEOSAT: Portuguese Earth observation company that leads the New Space Portugal agenda and operates the Atlantic satellite constellation on the Portuguese side. Highly comparable as the primary operational EO entity in the same national ecosystem.
• AAC Clyde Space: Provides CubeSat platform and smallsat bus technology, partnering with LusoSpace for the Lusíada VDES Constellation. Direct peer in smallsat manufacturing for emerging constellations.
• OHB Sweden: Swedish satellite manufacturer partnered with N3O for full-system production of Atlantic Constellation VHR satellites. Direct peer in smallsat/mediumsat manufacturing for European EO and science missions.

Broad incumbents

• Thales Alenia Space: Major European space prime offering end-to-end satellite systems across civil, defence, and commercial markets. Broad incumbent that competes with NSP's sovereignty-driven Atlantic Constellation positioning within EU programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/home
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-space-portugal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NEW SPACE PORTUGAL