Mission Space prepares for 2025 launch of first commercial space weather payload

In early 2025, Luxembourg-based startup Mission Space is set to make a historic leap with the launch of the first commercial payload dedicated to space weather monitoring.

This mission will initiate the deployment of a cutting-edge satellite constellation designed to provide real-time, high-resolution data on space weather, aiming to vastly improve the accuracy of localised forecasts.

Space weather, often underestimated, has the potential to disrupt the technology we rely on daily – impacting satellites, GPS, power grids, and even financial systems. Severe geomagnetic storms can cause economic damage on a massive scale, with losses projected to reach up to $42 billion per day in the worst cases.

At the core of Mission Space's venture is its proprietary Zohar sensor, an advanced device built in-house to reshape space weather monitoring. Equipped with both a spectrometer and a Cherenkov detector, Zohar performs up to 1,000 measurements per second, capturing critical data on charged particles and geomagnetic activity.

This launch marks the first of 24 planned payloads, forming a satellite constellation expected to be fully operational by 2027. Once completed, the network will leverage machine learning and continuous data from the constellation to provide accurate space storm forecasts. Mission Space’s system offers industry-specific mitigation insights up to 96 hours in advance, giving sectors the tools to protect themselves from the disruptive impacts of space weather.

DPhi Space, a key collaborator, will oversee the integration and launch of the payload. This partnership aims to help industries better assess and manage space weather risks. Airlines, for example, will be able to route flights around radiation zones, protecting passengers and crew. On the ground, the public will experience fewer disruptions to communication and technology, reducing the risks space weather poses to everyday life.