IRIDE (Italian: Iniziative di Resilienza per l'Italia Dalle Emergenze, Initiatives for Italy's Resilience from Emergencies) is an Italian Earth observation satellite programme developed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the National Complementary Plan (NCP). Coordinated by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI), IRIDE aims to establish a comprehensive satellite constellation for environmental monitoring, disaster management, civil protection, security, and public administration support. The programme, involving over 73 Italian companies, is designed as a "constellation of constellations" with advanced sensor technologies. IRIDE became operational on 1 July 2026.
Satellite Technologies IRIDE's constellation is built on multiple platforms, enabling high-revisit rates, all-weather/day-night imaging, and versatile applications:
1) Hawk for Earth observation (HEO) platform, developed by Argotec involved in manufacturing 25 IRIDE satellites.
2) EAGLET2 platform, developed by OHB Italia involved in manufacturing 24 IRIDE satellites.
3) PLATINO bus, developed by SITAEL S.p.A with Hyperspectral Imaging payloads from Leonardo involved in manufacturing 5 IRIDE Satellites.
4) NIMBUS platform, developed by Thales Alenia Space involved in manufacturing 12 SAR and one VHR IRIDE satellite
5) one IRIDE-SAR-NOX satellite developed by D-Orbit for the IRIDE programme
Launch history NameSATCATLaunch date (UTC)Launch vehicleInclinationStatus IRIDE-MS2-HEO 16269714 January 2025Falcon 9 Block 5Transporter-1298°IRIDE-MS2-HEO 26456923 June 2025Falcon 9 Block 5Transporter-14IRIDE-MS2-HEO 364568IRIDE-MS2-HEO 464582IRIDE-MS2-HEO 564571IRIDE-MS2-HEO 664576IRIDE-MS2-HEO 864587IRIDE-MS2-HEO 964585IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 128 November 2025Falcon 9 Block 5Transporter-15IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 2IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 3IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 4IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 5IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 6IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 7IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 8IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 930 March 2026Falcon 9 Block 5Transporter-16IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 10IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 11IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 12IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 13IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 14IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 15IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 16IRIDE-MS2-HEO 73 May 2026Falcon 9 Block 5CAS500-2 rideshare98.1°IRIDE-MS2-HEO 10IRIDE-MS2-HEO 11IRIDE-MS2-HEO 12IRIDE-MS2-HEO 13IRIDE-MS2-HEO 14IRIDE-MS2-HEO 15IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 171 October 2026Falcon 9 Block 5 Transporter-18IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 18IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 19IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 20IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 21IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 22IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 23IRIDE-MS1-EAGLET2 24
See also Italian Space Agency European Space Agency Atlantic Constellation List of European Space Agency programmes and missions
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