ATHENS, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Greece successfully launched its first domestically built satellite, DUTHSat-2, into orbit on Monday, marking a key milestone in the country's growing space ambitions, according to Greek media outlet To Vima's report on Wednesday.
The seven-kilogram satellite, developed by the Democritus University of Thrace in cooperation with local tech firms, was deployed from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket during the Transporter-14 rideshare mission at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Part of Greece's National Microsatellite Program, DUTHSat-2 is designed to support environmental monitoring, disaster response, and civil protection. It features sensors capable of detecting marine pollution and soil moisture, and includes an onboard telemetry system functioning as a "space black box."
"This is the first Greek-flagged satellite in space -- a symbol of what our scientific community and industry can achieve," said Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou.
The satellite will also serve as a testbed for emerging space technologies over the next six months. Two additional Greek-made CubeSats are scheduled for launch later this year.
Earlier in 2025, Greece was named one of two host countries for the European Union's secure satellite communications initiative, GOVSATCOM. ■