Startical has successfully launched its first satellite, IOD-1. The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-13 rideshare mission, facilitated by launch integrator Exolaunch.
Startical is a joint venture company formed by Spanish ANSP ENAIRE and ATM equipment company Indra to advance space-based air traffic management technology.
IOD-1 (In-Orbit Demonstrator-1) was built by Danish company GomSpace and was specified and validated by Indra with support from ENAIRE. Exolaunch managed the satellite’s integration into the rocket and its deployment into orbit.
Equipped with a VHF antenna and an ADS-B surveillance system, IOD-1 is designed to test real-time communication between air traffic controllers and aircraft using satellite-based signals.
The satellite is part of the EU co-funded ECHOES project, which aims to evaluate how space-based solutions can improve air traffic management (ATM) services and reduce environmental impact.
IOD-1 will assess the feasibility of using CubeSats – compact, cost-effective, and energy-efficient satellites– for aeronautical communication. The system will be tested for compliance with existing aviation standards and its ability to support continuous, high-quality voice and data communication between pilots and controllers in remote and oceanic regions, where real-time voice coverage is currently unavailable.
“We are proud to become a space-based company with the launch of IOD-1, a demonstrator that paves the way for the Startical constellation. With over 200 satellites in low Earth orbit, this constellation will provide global coverage, transforming air traffic management,” said Juan Enrique González Laguna, general manager of Startical.
The new technology is expected to enhance air traffic safety and efficiency by allowing more precise aircraft positioning and reducing the need for large separation distances. It will also improve operational flexibility, particularly in critical situations such as weather-related route changes or onboard medical emergencies. By enabling optimal flight paths, the system will contribute to lower fuel consumption and a reduction in aviation-related emissions.
Carsten Drachmann, CEO of GomSpace said, “We appreciate Startical’s trust in our 16U CubeSat for this mission, which will have a positive impact on the efficiency and sustainability of air traffic management. We look forward to seeing the performance of IOD-1 in orbit.”
Startical introduced its second satellite in February, IOD-2, which has undergone testing at Spain’s National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) in Madrid. Like IOD-1, it is part of the ECHOES project and will undergo further validation in orbit.
Following the deployment of IOD-1 and IOD-2, Startical will conduct proof-of-concept tests in the South Atlantic corridor, covering the Canary Islands, Azores-Santa Maria, Dakar Oceanic, Cape Verde, and Brazil’s Atlantic region. These tests will be carried out in collaboration with air navigation service providers, including ENAIRE, NAV Portugal, ASA, ASECNA, and DECEA, demonstrating strong international interest in space-based ATM solutions.