First nanosatellite from Catalan government goes into space

The Catalan government’s first nanosatellite was launched on Monday at 7:07 am (CET) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, exactly two days after the initial takeoff was postponed due to technical reasons.

The ‘Enxaneta’, named after the children who climb on top of Catalonia’s traditional human towers, is the first of six nanosatellites that will be put into orbit over the coming years as part of the government’s New Space strategy, which aims to boost the local economy by investing on the space industry.

Moment del llançament 🚀 l’#Enxaneta, el primer nanosatèl·lit que el @govern envia a l’espai 🛰 https://t.co/zZJtCSxWWQ pic.twitter.com/MvvxCt9Y3q

— gencat (@gencat) March 22, 2021

At a cost of €574.750, the nanosatellite was designed and built by the Catalan company Sateliot. Its main goal is to improve IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity and collect data from about 100 sensors spread across Catalonia, monitoring water level in rivers, pollution and wildlife.

“Today it’s a great day for Catalonia” said shortly after the launch Catalonia’s digital policies minister Jordi Puigneró. “Having access to the Internet of Things will be the base of the new digital economy. In the 21st century, connectivity is an economic and social right.”