Fuerteventura Tech Park Hosts Europe's First Civil Pseudosatellite Flight

The Fuerteventura Technology Park, under the authority of the Island Council, welcomed the launch and flight of the first civil pseudo‑satellite in Spain—and likely in Europe—on the early hours of Friday, 12 December, at 01:07 UTC. The operation took place from the facilities of Canarias Stratoport for HAPS and UAS.

Flight Details

• The mission used an unmanned platform built by Mira Aerospace (Space42), featuring an 18‑metre wingspan and 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 and reaching a maximum altitude of 2,000 feet and covering an approximate distance of 30 km.
• The aircraft landed safely back at Canarias Stratoport at 03:40 UTC, completing a total flight time of two hours and thirty‑three minutes.

Project Outlook

This flight marks the first of a series of operations scheduled for the coming weeks, with the ultimate goal of reaching the stratosphere during the first half of 2026.

The initiative is part of the Canarias Geo Innovation 2030 programme, driven by the Fuerteventura Island Council and the Government of the Canary Islands. It aligns with the Canary Islands Aerospace Strategy and the Biodiversity Complementary Programme of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and is co‑financed by the European Commission.

Collaboration and Support

The successful operation highlighted extensive technical and operational coordination with several key entities:

• ENAIRE, especially the Canary Islands Control Centre
• AESA (Spanish State Aviation Safety Agency)
• SAERCO and Murzilli Consulting
• Project leaders Telespazio Ibérica and Pegasus Aero Group
• CATEC (Advanced Centre for Aerospace Technologies) as the platform operator

The Technology Park also emphasized the involvement of its technical team and Board of Directors, as well as the 15‑year institutional backing from the Fuerteventura Island Council, which has enabled the development of a strategic infrastructure focused on innovation, research, and aerospace development.

Additional collaborators acknowledged include:

• ACIISI (Canary Islands Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society)
• The Government of the Canary Islands and Proexca
• The European Space Agency (ESA)
• The Canary Air Transport Observatory
• Various professional and institutional partners contributing to the project’s progress
• Support from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the European Commission

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