On January 14, the Spanish startup launched three FOSSASats aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, marking a major step forward in the future of IoT connectivity and communications from space.
FOSSA Systems kicked off 2025 looking toward space. The company, founded by Julián Fernández and Vicente González, successfully launched its new generation of satellites on January 14 at 19:48 CET (Spanish time) from Vandenberg Space Force Base (California, USA). The aerospace startup deployed three FOSSASats aboard the Falcon 9 rocket as part of SpaceX’s Transporter 12 mission.
The launch included three FOSSASats, one of which was transported inside an Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) called Mira, provided by Impulse Space. This satellite was later deployed from the OTV to reach its designated orbit independently, marking another milestone in FOSSA’s expansion into space.
This achievement, key to FOSSA’s goal of enabling “satellite roaming for IoT connectivity,” coincided with the inauguration of its first international subsidiary in Lisbon, Portugal, where the launch was streamed live on a giant screen.
Following liftoff, the nanosatellites were deployed from their dispenser into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at approximately 500 km altitude, orbiting the planet 15 times a day at a speed of 27,000 km/h. FOSSA’s satellites successfully connected with the company’s ground stations in Madrid and worldwide within a few hours. This initiated a commissioning phase lasting several weeks, during which all necessary tests were conducted to ensure optimal satellite performance and prepare them for commercial use.
“These satellites mark another milestone in our mission to provide cutting-edge IoT solutions from space and represent the beginning of FOSSA’s commercial phase,” said Julián Fernández, CEO and co-founder of the company.
The New FOSSASats
FOSSA is growing, and so are its satellites. The new generation of nanosatellites, developed and manufactured entirely at its headquarters in Madrid, has dimensions of 30x10x10 cm when folded, with a deployed wingspan of 54 cm, a mass of 6 kg, and power generation exceeding 30W. These are 24 times larger than the original FOSSASat-1, the company’s first picosatellite, and 12 times larger than the FOSSASat-2E models first launched in January 2022. These satellites can serve thousands of assets in Spain and hundreds of thousands worldwide.
But they are not just bigger—they are more durable. While their predecessors had a lifespan of 12 to 18 months, the new FOSSASats are designed to operate for 5 to 7 years before naturally deorbiting and disintegrating, ensuring they leave no space debris behind.
The Spanish aerospace startup, specializing in providing global IoT connectivity solutions for remote asset and infrastructure management, has deployed 17 nanosatellites since its founding. With this latest launch, that number continues to grow and will expand further throughout 2025 as the company works toward deploying a constellation of 80 satellites in Low Earth Orbit, offering global coverage for customers in industries such as Energy & Utilities, Construction, Agriculture, Logistics, Oil & Gas, and National Security.
Additionally, FOSSA provides dedicated satellites and constellations to companies, governments, and institutions requiring their own IoT, RF, or specialized payload infrastructure.
Security and Sovereignty
FOSSA Systems is the first and only company in Spain that manufactures satellites and operates its own satellite communications service. By developing its own space technology and operating its own networks, the company guarantees data security through advanced encryption and compliance with global security standards while also reducing development costs and time-to-market.
In this regard, Julián Fernández emphasizes: “FOSSA is the only European company that fully verticalizes the design, production, and operation of satellites for IoT and Communications with standardized protocols. This is a strategic capability that Spain and Europe must have, especially considering advancements in other regions.”
