Ororatech Ororatech, in collaboration with the Bundeswehr University Munich, has successfully launched the first satellite of its new GENA series into space. The research satellite GENA-OT (Generic flexible Nanosatellite by Ororatech) was launched aboard the SpaceX Transporter-15 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Munich-based startup's project was funded under the General Support Technology Programme (GSPTP)GSTP) developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and funded by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
The modular 16U-CubeSat serves as a "mini-laboratory in space" and offers space for various payloads such as sensors or cameras. With this platform, Ororatech aims to enable research institutions, universities, and companies to conduct experiments and technology tests in space more easily and cost-effectively. The goal is to standardize access to space and thus strengthen Europe's innovative capacity and technological independence.
Flexible platform for research and startups
With GENA-OT, Ororatech is creating an open platform that can serve multiple users simultaneously. Research institutions and startups can integrate their own experiments into the satellite without having to build a complete space mission themselves. The concept aims to shorten development times and enable new collaborations between science and industry.
Andreas Knopp emphasized by the University of the German Federal Armed Forces Munich:
“High speed, modular design and state-of-the-art innovation: With GENA-OT, we are demonstrating what the future of satellite development looks like. In an unprecedentedly short time, we have integrated several innovative payloads from the university as well as various startups. The project illustrates how science and industry, by combining their strengths, can quickly meet the demands of New Space.”
Martin Langer, Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer of Ororatech, adds:
“Our mission underscores how commercial platforms and public benefit go hand in hand: GENA-OT is the result of a public-private partnership in which we delivered space-ready hardware in record time. We firmly believe that good decisions are based on good data. And our new satellite platform offers the opportunity for new infrastructures to acquire new data quickly and flexibly.”
A step towards European independence
The GENA platform is intended to serve as the standard for flexible satellite missions in the future. It opens up new opportunities for European space research and contributes to building more independent data and technology infrastructures in Europe. Ororatech plans to launch further GENA satellites with different payloads.
Following a successful Series B financing round, Ororatech GENA-OT recently garnered attention for its work monitoring forest fires in Colombia. With the successful launch of GENA-OT, the Munich-based startup is further expanding its role as an innovation partner in the European New Space sector.
