Argentina's Innova Space set to launch two new picosatellites

Argentine satellite company Innova Space has announced that two new picosatellites will be launched in January 2023 to join its Libertadores de América constellation.

The satellites will be launched by SpaceX from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The two new low-orbit satellites, named Dibu Martínez and Juana Azurduy, will join General San Martín, the company's first satellite, which was launched last January.

The company had initially planned to launch more satellites in 2022, but the program has been delayed, meaning that the second and third satellites will now be launched in January.

“The two new picosatellites, which measure 10x10x5cm and weigh 500 grams, have a technological update, so 70% of these new models have been modified from their first concept. We have made progress on all these changes in less than a year thanks to 'General San Martín', which allowed us to learn and reformulate many things about the satellite subsystems,” Innova Space CEO Alejandro Cordero said in a release.

The company is planning for a constellation containing a total of 90 picosatellites. The focus will now be on finding the funding to be able to launch at least six more.

The second mission will allow proof of concept and validation of the platform. The company estimates that by the end of 2023 it will be ready to design the final platform, with a view to starting the sale of services in early 2024.

The company plans to offer IoT applications for the oil and gas, environmental monitoring, agriculture and mining industries.