Catalonia's third nanosatellite to launch in April aiming to improve 5G connectivity
SpaceX rocket will carry Minairó from California into orbit, with fourth nanosatellite announced for later this year
Catalonia is to launch its third nanosatellite into orbit before the end of April.
Minairó will set off from California on board a Falcon 9 rocket from American company SpaceX with the aim of establishing a "laboratory in orbit" and improving 5G connectivity.
The satellite is named after a type of tiny elf, typical in myths and legends of the Pyrenees. The name Minairó was chosen by the young viewers of InfoK, a children's news programme from Catalan public broadcaster TV3.
During the presentation of the satellite on Monday, digital policies secretary Gina Tost also announced that a fourth satellite, this one dedicated to Earth observation, will be put out to tender in 2023.
The nanosatellites form part of the Catalan government's New Space strategy.
"We have the capacity and strength to position Catalonia in this emerging sector. We have successful experiences, talent, and technological material," Tost said.
Menut and Enxaneta
Catalonia's second nanosatellite was named Menut, which means small in Catalan, after almost 20,000 children voted on what it should be called.
The first nanosatellite, Enxaneta, was named after the daredevil children who climb to the top of human towers and raise their hands to the sky to signal the castell (castle) has been crowned.
Menut was launched to provide data for dealing with challenges such as energy or climate change while Enxaneta's main goal was to improve IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity.
The nanosatellites funded by the government also serve to "train up" a Catalan industry that seeks to compete at a global level, according to the director of the Catalan Institute of Space Studies, Ignasi Ribas, at the launch of Menut.
Find out more about Enxaneta and the Catalan Space Agency in this podcast from March 2021.