IRIDE Successfully Launches First Satellite, the Pathfinder Hawk
Credit: ESA/ASI
The Pathfinder Hawk Satellite was successfully launched into space on January 14th from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This microsatellite serves as a prototype for one of six planned IRIDE constellations.
The IRIDE program was developed by the Italian government in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) with the goal of providing critical data for a range of environmental, emergency, and security services in Italy. The ESA has worked closely with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) on this program as part of the NextGenerationEU initiative, which supports the development of space activities across the EU. The current plan is to have all six IRIDE microsatellites fully operational by 2026.
Teodoro Valente, President of ASI, celebrated the achievement, stating, “The launch of the Pathfinder Hawk Satellite marks a major milestone for the IRIDE program and the entire Italian space sector.”
We are proud to share that VPT’s DC-DC converters played a crucial role in making this mission possible. Congratulations to everyone involved with the IRIDE program—we look forward to its continued success.
