- The Greek Ministry of Digital Governance selected the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) in Crete as the operational communication hub for the national micro-satellite constellation.
- Stationed in Heraklion, the ground facility handles telemetry, telecommanding, and data processing for environmental monitoring, agriculture, and defense.
- Part of the €200 million National Micro-Satellite Program, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the project operates in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Hellenic Space Center.
- Built by the consortium lead, Open Cosmos Aegean, and installed by the Libre Space Foundation, the station links directly to FORTH’s research ecosystem and the nearby Skinakas Observatory.
The Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence is installing a satellite ground station at the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) in Crete to serve as an operational communications hub for Greece’s growing fleet of microsatellites.
The station will provide telemetry, remote control, and data transfer services, creating an important link between Greece’s national satellite infrastructure and the country’s research and technology capabilities.
A lease agreement between FORTH and the General Secretariat for Telecommunications and Posts of the Ministry covers the installation of the station and related equipment. The agreement began on November 1, 2025.
The project forms part of Greece’s €200 million National Microsatellite Program, implemented in cooperation with the Hellenic Space Center and the European Space Agency (ESA) and funded through the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Why FORTH Was Chosen
FORTH is Greece’s largest research center and has extensive experience in fields directly connected to space technology. Its work includes satellite remote sensing, astrophysics, advanced telecommunications, quantum communications, and space surveillance.
The institute also operates the Skinakas Observatory jointly with the University of Crete. One of the most important astrophysics research facilities in southeastern Europe, Skinakas is also being developed to contribute to space surveillance technologies and to secure ground-to-space communications using laser systems.
The ground station was built by a consortium headed by Open Cosmos Aegean, while Greek space-technology company Libre Space Foundation completed its installation.
Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Minister Dimitris Papastergiou said the National Microsatellite Program is intended to provide Greece with the infrastructure needed to leverage space-based data for civil protection, climate change response, environmental protection, precision agriculture, maritime surveillance, and spatial planning.
He described the FORTH installation as a link between Greece’s national space policy and its domestic research and technological expertise, with the broader goal of strengthening the Greek space ecosystem.
FORTH President Professor Vassilis Charmandaris said the station strengthens Greece’s national space strategy while reflecting the institute’s research capabilities and expertise in advanced technologies.
Crete Expands Its Role in Space Research
The new ground station arrives as FORTH expands its activities in emerging space technologies.
The institute recently secured €35 million in funding through the HORIZON-WIDERA-2025 program for SPACE-Crete, a project to establish the Cretan Center of Excellence in Emerging Space Technologies (CCEST).
The initiative is expected to strengthen Crete’s position as an international center for space research and innovation.
Professor Panagiotis Tsakalidis, Scientific Director of SPACE-Crete and Director of the Institute of Informatics, said the simultaneous development of SPACE-Crete and operation of the ground station could create opportunities to improve the analysis of satellite data and develop new services for Crete and Greece.
“We are particularly happy about the timing of the launch of SPACE – Crete with the parallel operation of the satellite ground station at FORTH’s facilities. I am sure that we will be able to contribute tangibly not only to ensuring the smooth operation of the station, but much more substantially to the optimal analysis of the data that the station will collect, so as to offer new services that will improve the quality of life of our fellow citizens in Crete and throughout Greece.”
The combination of a national satellite communications facility, established research infrastructure, and new European funding gives Crete a growing role in Greece’s space ambitions. The ground station is therefore more than a communications facility. It is another piece of the infrastructure needed to turn satellite data into practical services on the ground.
