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The mission

IRIDE is a national mission initiated by the Italian government and coordinated by ESA with the support of the Italian Space Agency (ASI). Its advanced Earth observation constellations deliver satellite data to support the monitoring of phenomena including ground motion, land cover, water resources, coastal areas and more.

The launch

First launch: Pathfinder Hawk (HEO constellation) on 14 January 2025

Site: Vandenberg, California, US

Rocket: Falcon 9

IRIDE patch
6 constellations
60+ satellites
70+ companies

Latest news

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[ IRIDE ]
Eaglet II launch progress for Italy’s IRIDE programme
02 OCT. 2026

Italy’s IRIDE completes Eaglet II constellation

The final batch of Eaglet II satellites for Italy’s IRIDE Earth observation programme has reached orbit, bringing the programme a step closer to providing a full range of satellite data for Italy’s environmental, emergency and security services.
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[ IRIDE ]
IRIDE reaches new milestone
04 MAY. 2026

Italy’s Earth monitoring programme reaches new milestone

Italy’s IRIDE Earth observation programme has added seven more satellites to its Hawk for Earth Observation (HEO) constellation, enhancing the strategic data it provides for Italy’s environmental, emergency and security services.
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[ IRIDE ]
Italy’s IRIDE space programme adds eight satellites
31 MAR. 2026

Eight more satellites added to IRIDE space programme

Eight satellites have been added to Italy’s IRIDE Earth observation programme, following launch on board a Falcon-9 rocket. The successful launch brings the total number of satellites in orbit for the Italian programme to 24.
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[ IRIDE ]
IRIDE’s Eaglet II satellites launched from Vandenberg
ARCHIVE CONTENT: 29 NOV. 2025

Italian mission adds to growing IRIDE space fleet

The Italian programme IRIDE, which provides public sector services based on data from its fleet of Earth observation constellations, has added eight satellites to its second constellation, Eaglet II.
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Latest images

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[ IRIDE ]
Gibraltar imaged by IRIDE Eaglet II
09 OCT. 2026

Gibraltar imaged by IRIDE Eaglet II

While the final eight IRIDE Eaglet II satellites were launched a week ago, the first images from Eaglet II satellites launched earlier are being returned, including a view of Gibraltar featured here.
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Latest videos

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IRIDE digital brochure

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IRIDE

Discover IRIDE

[ IRIDE ]
IRIDE
03 OCT. 2025

Introducing IRIDE

Our environment is both unique and fragile: from the air we breathe to the soil in which we grow food and the seas that support marine biodiversity. Phenomena such as earthquakes, flooding, pollution and wildfires can affect our natural habitats and our daily lives.
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[ IRIDE ]
IRIDE constellations
03 OCT. 2025

IRIDE satellites

IRIDE’s system consists of six constellations equipped with sensors for Earth observation. It is one of the most complex and comprehensive Earth observation satellite systems in the world.
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[ IRIDE ]
IRIDE supports coastal-marine monitoring
09 OCT. 2025

IRIDE goals and purpose

The IRIDE project encompasses the development and realisation of a system, from the satellites in orbit, to processing the data as well as the applications that provide services.
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[ IRIDE ]
Fucino ground station
20 OCT. 2025

IRIDE mission control, data and services

The data gathered by IRIDE’s satellites are transmitted to space antennas and downloaded to a network of ground stations all over the world.
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