First fully Bulgarian scientific satellite launched into space
The nano-satellite by EnduroSat was launched at 9:09 PM Bulgarian time on Tuesday as part of the Balkan-1 mission to low Earth orbit aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.
EnduroSat is one of the fastest-growing Bulgarian nano-satellite manufacturers globally and a leader in Bulgaria’s space sector.
“Balkan-1 is EnduroSat’s mission for high-resolution multispectral imaging for Earth observation,” said EnduroSat.
The mission will provide images for the Copernicus program with a 1.5-meter resolution, critical for monitoring agriculture, forestry, land cover change management, climate impacts, biodiversity, and vegetation.
Balkan-1 is a nano-satellite weighing 32 kg. It orbits at an altitude of 500 kilometers above Earth. Its planned operational lifespan is five years.
The Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna organized an event at its Planetarium for the launch of the mission carrier from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Cadets, students, and faculty were invited to watch the launch of the EnduroSat Balkan-1 mission in the Star Hall.
Speaking from the company’s office in Denver, Colorado, EnduroSat’s CEO and founder, Raycho Raychev, stated that EnduroSat is a leader in this sector.
“We serve over 350 customers worldwide, have delivered more than 100 satellites for clients, and launched over 60 into orbit just last year. We launched more satellites than the entire space programs of all Balkan countries combined, which is a strong testament to our success. Developed in Bulgaria, largely operated by Bulgarians, we serve the whole world. EnduroSat is gradually planning to establish a constellation of 120 Balkan satellites that will provide much broader Earth observation capabilities,” said Raychev.
The satellite aims to provide space data of national and regional interest, Lyubomir Toshev, Head of Ground Segment at EnduroSat, told BTA in Varna.
It can monitor maritime areas and ships, assist in disaster management, support land mapping, and oversee coastal zones and strategic infrastructure. Its primary goal is also to contribute to security.
Onboard is a multispectral sensor that observes Earth and water bodies across multiple spectral bands. This can provide information on the presence of chemicals and various elements in water and soil, monitor their quality by analyzing pollution levels, and detect microplastic content, Toshev explained.
This is the first entirely Bulgarian satellite with a scientific function and a focus on security, Toshev added.
