Cyprus’s first domestically developed satellite is slated for launch in 2026 with support from NASA and COSPAR, Chief Scientist Demetris Skourides announced at the opening of the 6th COSPAR Symposium in Nicosia (3-7 November 2025), themed “Space Exploration 2025: Humanity’s Challenges and Celestial Solutions.”
Skourides said the mission aligns with the Government’s Vision 2035 to build a resilient, knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy, positioning Cyprus as a regional hub for research and high tech.
The symposium, under the auspices of the Office of the Chief Scientist with the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) as Grand National Sponsor, brings delegates from 45+ countries and 90 organisations, including NASA, ESA, JAXA and ISRO. Attendees include CSEO President George Danos, COSPAR President Pascale Ehrenfreund, COSPAR General Counsel Niklas Hedman, ULA’s Chief Rocket Scientist John G. Reed and former Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall, alongside two astronauts and five ambassadors.
Key milestones and infrastructure
• C-SpaRC: The €2.5m Cyprus Space Research and Innovation Centre, funded by RIF and led by CSEO with partners such as NASA’s TRISH, Lockheed Martin and the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory.
• International frameworks: Cyprus became an Associate Member of ESA in 2023 and signed the Artemis Accords with NASA in 2024.
Ehrenfreund hailed “an exciting week of scientific exchange” and said COSPAR will soon issue a statement on the role of space-based observation in climate research ahead of COP13 in Brazil. Speaking for the President of the Republic, Georgios Komodromos highlighted rapid ecosystem growth, ESA associate membership and EU Space Days that Cyprus will host in 2026 during its EU Council Presidency. Lockheed Martin’s Dr Eric Smith reaffirmed industry-science collaboration, MEP Costas Mavrides urged a Mediterranean crisis-management centre in Cyprus leveraging space tech, and Invest Cyprus CEO Marios Tannousis stressed support for international partnerships and investment.
Cyprus advances satellite development under C-SpaRC while leveraging ESA ties and Artemis participation, with the 2026 launch targeted as a national technology milestone.
Source: CNA