Fuerteventura Hosts Europe’s First Civilian Pseudosatellite Flight

The flight of the Mira aircraft marks the first of a series of operations aimed at reaching the stratosphere during the first half of 2026.

First Flight at the Technological Park

The Technological Park of Fuerteventura, managed by the Island Council, welcomed the launch and flight of Spain’s—and likely Europe’s—first civil pseudo‑satellite in the early hours of Friday, 12 December, at 01:07 UTC. The mission took place from the facilities of Canarias Stratoport for HAPS and UAS.

Details of the Operation

• The unmanned platform, provided by Mira Aerospace (Space42), has an 18‑metre wingspan and is equipped with electro‑optical and infrared cameras.
• According to the flight plan, the aircraft first circled over Canarias Stratoport to verify and validate its flight systems.
• It then departed the island along the northeast coast, flying over the sea, reaching a maximum altitude of 2,000 feet and covering an approximate distance of 30 kilometres.
• The landing occurred without incident at 03:40 UTC back at the Canarias Stratoport facilities, after a total flight time of two hours and thirty‑three minutes.

Future Plans

This flight is the inaugural step of a series of operations scheduled for the coming weeks, with the ultimate goal of reaching the stratosphere in the first half of 2026. The project is part of the Canarias Geo Innovation 2030 programme, promoted by the Cabildo of Fuerteventura and the Government of the Canary Islands, within the Canary Islands Aerospace Strategy and the Complementary Biodiversity Programme of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, co‑financed by the European Commission.

Collaborations and Support

The Technological Park highlighted the technical and operational coordination with ENAIRE, especially the Canary Islands Control Centre, AESA (Spanish Aviation Safety Agency), SAERCO, and Murzilli Consulting. Leading entities in the project include Telespazio Ibérica and Pegasus Aero Group, with the Advanced Centre for Aerospace Technologies (CATEC) acting as the platform operator.

The park also emphasized the involvement of its technical team and Board of Directors, as well as the fifteen‑year institutional backing from the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, which has enabled the development of a strategic infrastructure for aerospace innovation, research, and development.

Additional collaborators recognized are the Canary Islands Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society (ACIISI), the Government of the Canary Islands, Proexca, the European Space Agency (ESA), the Canary Air Transport Observatory, and numerous professionals who contributed to the project, alongside support from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the European Commission.

Significance

This milestone reinforces the Canary Islands’ position as a strategic hub for high‑altitude aviation and the development of aerospace technologies within Europe.