The Sentinel-1 mission, which provides radar vision for the Copernicus Earth observation program, has added the on-orbit arrival in SSO of the final first generation series of satellites, the Sentinel-1D, launching from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on Tuesday, November 4th.

Thirty-four minutes post launch, the satellite gained its assigned orbit, with signal acquisition confirming the satellite is on-orbit and is actively communicating with the ground systems.

The Sentinel-1 mission delivers high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of Earth’s surface whenever needed, in all weathers, day-and-night. This service is used by disaster response teams, environmental agencies, maritime authorities, climate scientists, and the wider Earth Observation (EO) user community worldwide, who depend on frequent updates of critical data.

Sentinel-1D will join its twin, Sentinel-1C and will replace Sentinel-1A when fully commissioned. When fully commissioned. these satellites will work in tandem, orbiting on opposite sides of the globe, 180° apart, to optimize global coverage and data delivery. Both satellites carry a C-band SAR instrument on board, together with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) instrument to improve the detection and tracking of ships in maritime zones. Both the 1C and the 1D are Galileo compatible as well as with other GNSS and are ready to support

When Sentinel-1D is fully operational, it will enhance AIS observations, including more data on vessel identity, location and direction of travel, and precise tracking. Sentinel-1D and Sentinel-1C are both compatible with the Galileo navigation system, as well as other Global Navigation Satellite Systems.

Additionally, both satellites will be ready to support the European Space Agency’s Earth Explorer Harmony mission, which will be comprised of two satellites to provide new data on various Earth processes, ranging from shifts in the shape of the land surface caused by earthquakes as well as volcanic activity and glacier movement insights. They will orbit Earth in convoy with a Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite to yield new information to answer important questions on Earth system processes.

Expected to bolster Canada’s sovereign space capabilities and create a competitive option for the global launch services market.

MDA Space Ltd. (TSX: MDA) has announced a $10 million equity investment into Maritime Launch Services Inc. This investment marks a key milestone in advancing Canada’s sovereign launch capability, strengthening the country’s domestic space value chain, with complete capability from ground to orbit.

The equity investment will accelerate Spaceport Nova Scotia’s readiness for orbital launch operations, providing reliable domestic launch capability for commercial, civil, government, and defence clients in Canada. MDA Space expects to become an operational partner at Spaceport Nova Scotia, supporting the development and future operations of the spaceport.

Maritime Launch is a Canadian-owned commercial space company that is developing Spaceport Nova Scotia, Canada’s first commercial orbital launch complex. Located near Canso, Nova Scotia, on the Atlantic coast, Spaceport Nova Scotia is designed to provide responsive, cost-effective, and sustainable access to space for launch vehicle developers and satellite delivery services to low-Earth orbit over a wide range of inclinations from a single site.

MDA Space’s investment and partnership come at a pivotal moment for Maritime Launch and for Canada’s space future,” said Stephen Matier, President and CEO of Maritime Launch Services. “By combining MDA Space’s world-class technical heritage with our operational focus at Spaceport Nova Scotia, we are creating the conditions our launch vehicle clients need: reliability, responsiveness, and integration across the full mission campaign. Together, we are building a complete sovereign launch solution that strengthens Canadian innovation, drives economic growth, and enhances security in space.”

Maritime Launch has been methodically advancing the development of Spaceport Nova Scotia, focused on doing it right, with safety, community, and operational excellence, to address the needs of the domestic and global space ecosystem,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. “In a rapidly changing space industry, establishing sovereign launch capacity in Canada that will respond to the global demand for alternate launch capabilities on Canada’s Atlantic coast is important. This is an example of strategically located critical infrastructure that is needed. MDA Space is pleased to partner with Maritime Launch on this exciting new chapter for the Canadian space industry.”

Four PocketQubes will be deployed by PocketQube broker, Alba Orbital, in collaboration with SEOPS as part of the Transporter-15 rideshare mission with SpaceX.

The PocketQube standard was first developed in 2009 at Morehead State University (MSU) and Kentucky Space to help universities and researchers across the globe perform space science and exploration at a fraction of the traditional cost. Each PocketQube measures just 5 cm³ per unit (or “1P”), making them among the smallest operational satellites ever developed.

In spite of their size, the capabilities of PocketQubes are immense—their compact form factor allows for launches starting from as little as €25k through Alba Orbital’s dedicated launch services. This affordability has opened space access to high schools, universities, startups, and research institutions worldwide.

Since the first PocketQube launch in 2013, mission types have ranged from Earth Observation (EO) and Internet of Things (IoT) experiments to communications and technology demos. The result is an ecosystem of smallsat innovation, proving that impactful space missions can be achieved in the smallest of sizes.

The growing popularity of the PocketQube standard has led to rapid innovation. Alba Orbital’s own 3P Unicorn-2 satellite is the world’s smallest commercial Earth observation platform, capable of capturing high-resolution imagery that rivals much larger satellites.

From commercial applications to student-led success, the RomSpace and HYPE missions highlight how PocketQubes have allowed young engineers and researchers to design, build, and launch real satellites.

RomSpace, a team of high school students aged 15 to 18 from the International Computer High School of Bucharest, successfully launched Romania’s first functioning satellite, ROM-2 (1P), followed closely by ROM-3 (1.5P).

The HYPE mission, from students at the AGH University of Krakow, was a 1P n-orbit demo featuring an onboard OLED display that shows uploaded images and messages, which are then photographed in space by a selfie-stick camera.

Satellites on the upcoming, historic, 100th PocketQube Launch

• HUNITY (NMHH-1) – Hungary Built by students and lecturers at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, HUNITY tests a new PocketQube platform while supporting student experiments and hands-on learning, advancing Hungary’s educational satellite programs.

• SARI-1 & SARI-2 – Saudi Arabia Developed through the Saudi Space Agency’s Sari competition, these student-built PocketQubes carry imaging, IoT, and telemetry payloads, giving participants practical experience in satellite engineering and operations.

• ANISCSAT – Azerbaijan Created by a university team in Azerbaijan, ANISCSAT hosts sensor experiments and a custom telemetry framework, providing students with real-world spacecraft design and mission experience while supporting the country’s growing space research efforts.

• PartnershipsIdeia Space, a Brazilian education startup, coordinated the Saudi and Azerbaijani missions, offering international collaboration, guidance, and mission support for student teams.

With the 100th PocketQube set to reach orbit, we’re fulfilling the revolution to democratize access to space,” said Tom Walkinshaw, CEO of Alba Orbital.

About Alba Orbital
Alba Orbital (UK, USA, Germany) is the world’s leading PocketQube company, having delivered 53 pico-satellites on orbit to date. Alba is a vertically integrated NewSpace company “democratizing access to space,” providing turnkey solutions from advanced pico-satellite platforms, low-cost launch opportunities, and ground station services. Alba has worked with over 30 customers across the globe.