Open Cosmos steps up Europe's space sovereignty game, shows off ConnectedCosmos satellites

The question of who controls satellite-based connectivity came into sharp focus in recent weeks after Ukraine's service was throttled and then restored.

Wherever Reg readers stand on those activities involving SpaceX's Starlink and Starshield, reliance on a foreign power that may not stay friendly is now under intense scrutiny. Alternatives exist, including Eutelsat OneWeb's constellation, and more are in the works. The Register toured the Harwell facility of another contender – Open Cosmos.

The business is just over a decade old and operates from multiple locations, including the UK, Greece, and Portugal. It has launched dozens of missions over the years, including its OpenConstellation service, which organizations use to share data from Earth observation satellites.

When it launched OpenConstellation in 2022, the aim was to have 25 satellites offering a mix of spatial and spectral resolution. While other services, such as the European Commission's Copernicus, provide similar data, OpenConstellation lets customers assign satellites specific tasks for specific data collection.

However, …