The two companies have signed an alliance to integrate IENAI’s ATHENA™ electric propulsion engine, capable of performing orbital maneuvers into the new platforms that FOSSA will launch at the end of 2026.
Madrid, January 28, 2026. FOSSA Systems has started the year the same way it closed the previous one: advancing steadily toward its goal of pushing the boundaries of space technology. The Spanish aerospace company, led by Julián Fernández and Vicente González, has announced a new space mission which, in collaboration with IENAI Space, will place into orbit the first fully Spanish mission focused on demonstrating an electric propulsion system. By late 2026, FOSSA plans to launch its next-generation nanosatellites, a new 6U platform weighing over 10 kg, offering greater power and capacity for advanced payloads. These satellites will incorporate an ATHENA™ NANO module (Adaptable Thruster based on Electrospray powered by Nanotechnology), an innovative low‑power, highly compact electric propulsion system based on electrospray technology, developed entirely in Spain. This technology will enable orbital maneuverability for the platform.
Julián Fernández, CEO and co‑founder of FOSSA, highlights that “this first fully Spanish propulsion mission demonstrates that our country is already a global reference in aerospace technology, with a young but solid industry poised to lead in this sector.”
Fernández adds: “This milestone aligns with our recent developments in onboard technologies for nano- and microsatellites for defense applications. It is the first step in many alliances that validate FOSSA’s dual‑use technology for both defense and industrial sectors.”
Daniel Pérez Grande, CEO of IENAI Space, emphasizes that “this mission represents a major milestone for both companies: for FOSSA, the launch of its highest‑performance satellite to date; and for IENAI, the integration of its flagship propulsion product for on‑orbit demonstration—after which it will begin its commercial phase.” He also underscores the Spanish identity of the mission: “It is important to highlight that integrating a national propulsion system into a national platform marks the culmination of the Spanish space supply chain, which now has full capability to develop satellite platforms aimed at large constellations.”
FOSSA Systems: A key player in the New Space sector
The Spanish company, which has launched 24 satellites over its five‑year history, has recently achieved significant milestones such as being selected to provide satellite IoT connectivity to Open Cosmos for the Atlantic Constellation, and being chosen as one of the 150 companies in NATO’s DIANA Defence Innovation Accelerator to develop its signals intelligence solution on low‑Earth orbit satellites.