Kongsberg NanoAvionics, a leading global manufacturer of small satellites and mission integrator, has announced that six satellites built for international clients are set to launch into orbit tonight as part of SpaceX’s Transporter-14 mission.
If weather conditions allow, the Falcon 9 rocket is expected to lift off at 00:25 Lithuanian time on 24 June. The launch will be live-streamed on the SpaceX website.
The event marks a key milestone for the Lithuania-based company, which will have successfully deployed satellites for more than 50 clients since its first satellite LituanicaSAT-2 was launched in 2017.
Beyond its own launches, the company has produced more than 20 additional satellites that clients have arranged to send into orbit independently. NanoAvionics' growing order book now includes over 300 satellites, designed for applications including broadband connectivity, Earth observation, and scientific services.
The missions feature a range of satellite platforms, weighing between 3 and 115 kilograms, and support advancements in fields such as quantum communication, satellite-based air traffic control, maritime monitoring, climate data, and research.
Satellite highlights
SkyBee-2, developed for the German firm Constellr, will join its sibling satellite SkyBee-1, launched in January, to expand the company’s growing Earth observation constellation. Together, the pair will measure Earth’s surface temperature during both day and night.
Accurate surface temperature data is crucial for sectors such as agriculture, energy, transport, construction, and public planning. Real-time thermal data helps industries allocate resources more efficiently and sustainably, while the satellite’s imaging resolution is expected to exceed current commercial standards.
Spain’s Startical will launch its IOD-2 satellite to test satellite-based voice and data communications for air traffic control, particularly over oceans and remote regions. The mission is the first step towards a planned constellation of more than 200 satellites, aimed at enhancing global aviation safety and efficiency by maintaining continuous communication between pilots and ground controllers – enabling more direct flight paths.
Two satellites, ARVAKER 2 and ARVAKER 3, will complete the initial deployment phase of the N3X satellite constellation by Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. These satellites are designed to assist in detecting and identifying vessels attempting to hide their locations, as well as support search and rescue operations – even when ships’ Automatic Identification Systems are disabled. The collected data will be shared with Norwegian government agencies and international partners.
Germany’s QUICK³ satellite, developed for the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, will test a compact quantum light source in orbit. The aim is to demonstrate secure quantum encryption technologies in space and investigate fundamental principles of quantum physics in microgravity conditions.
Finally, New Zealand’s Te Pūnaha Ātea Space Institute at the University of Auckland will launch its TPA-1 satellite, which will test four instruments: a deployable sail for rapid deorbiting, a satellite selfie camera, Earth observation cameras, and a thermal measurement system. It is the first of two satellites using NanoAvionics platforms to be launched for the university.
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