Ororatech has successfully launched the first satellite in its new GENA series into space together with the Universität der Bundeswehr München. The research satellite GENA-OT (Generic flexible Nanosatellite by Ororatech) lifted off aboard the SpaceX Transporter-15 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Munich startup’s project was developed as part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) and funded by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
The modular 16U-CubeSat serves as a “mini-laboratory in space” and provides space for various payloads such as sensors or cameras. With the platform, Ororatech aims to give research institutions, universities, and companies the opportunity to conduct experiments and technology tests in space more easily and cost-effectively. The goal is to standardize access to space and thereby strengthen Europe’s innovation capacity and technological independence.
Flexible platform for research and startups
With GENA-OT, Ororatech creates 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 is designed to shorten development times and enable new collaborations between science and industry.
Andreas Knopp from the Universität der Bundeswehr München emphasizes:
“High speed, modular design, and cutting-edge innovation: with GENA-OT, we’re showing what the future of satellite development looks like. In an unprecedentedly short timeframe, we integrated several innovative payloads from universities as well as various startups. The project demonstrates how science and industry, pooling their forces, can quickly meet the demands of New Space.”
Martin Langer, CEO 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-qualified hardware in record time. We are firmly convinced: good decisions are based on good data. And our new satellite platform offers the opportunity for new infrastructure to quickly and flexibly acquire new data.”
Step toward European independence
The GENA platform is intended to serve as a standard for flexible satellite missions in the future. It opens new opportunities for European space research and contributes to building more independent data and technology infrastructure in Europe. Ororatech plans to launch additional GENA satellites with different payloads.
Following a successful Series B funding round, Ororatech recently made headlines with its work on forest fire monitoring in Colombia. With the successful launch of GENA-OT, the Munich startup is further expanding its role as an innovation partner in the European New Space sector.
