This is Posidonia, A Satellite Watching Over the Balearic Islands From Above

From Mallorca to space. What seemed like science fiction just a few decades ago is now a reality thanks to the launch of Posidonia, the Balearic Islands’ first satellite. Behind the project is Rafel Jordà, a Mallorcan engineer in his early thirties who’s successfully made his company, Open Cosmos, one of the most innovative firms in the European space industry.

The satellite, which will be launched into space towards the end of 2025, will be an essential tool for understanding how climate change affects the Balearic Islands and how to adapt business activities, particularly tourism, to new environmental challenges. "Measuring the effects of climate change and human activity on our islands is key to preserving the paradise we live in," says Jordà.

Insight from space to protect paradise

Open Cosmos will not only build the satellite, but also operate it and analyse the data it collects. It will do this from its headquarters in Mallorca, with an international team of more than 70 people. The project is co-financed by EU funds and boasts collaboration from the University of the Balearic Islands, Wireless DNA and eight large hotel chains such as Iberostar, Garden Hotels and Barceló.

But what exactly will this satellite be able to do? The short answer is: a lot. Thanks to its ability to observe the Earth from space, Posidonia will make it possible to monitor the real-time status of groundwater, water quality at beaches, the number of vehicles and people in tourist areas, and even predict extreme heat waves.

For example, by combining satellite images with sensors on the ground, it will be possible to assess water stress in specific areas, which is key to managing water on islands with limited resources. On the coastline, these images will make it possible to detect spills or assess the distribution of sand on the beaches, both an environmental and an economic concern. And in terms of overcrowding in tourist areas, the sensors will be able to count boats, vehicles and even people, so that planning is based on real data rather than intuition.

Technology at the service of sustainable tourism

The impact of this satellite goes beyond the environment. It’s also intended to be a catalyst for modernising the tourism model. As underlined by María José Aguiló, vice-president of the Hotel Federation of Mallorca, this tool “puts data before opinion”, and provides a scientific basis for strategic decision-making: from where to invest in infrastructure to how to better manage public space.

In the words of Antoni Costa, vice-president of the Balearic Government, Posidonia is "much more than a technological advance; it’s a commitment to the future of our islands". It also reinforces the Balearic Islands’ position as a pioneering region in the use of technology for sustainability.

The Mallorcan man democratising access to space

The author of all this, Rafel Jordà, is no newcomer. Raised in Mallorca, he studied aerospace engineering with brilliant results and founded Open Cosmos at the age of 26. Since then, the company has successfully launched multiple satellites and racked up more than €50 million in contracts. Their mission: to democratise access to space to make it available to everyone, not just the major powers.

In a world where data is gold, Open Cosmos works to make it useful too. With their DataCosmos platform, they offer artificial intelligence analysis of satellite images, accessible even to non-space companies. And with their jointly-owned constellation, OpenConstellation, they allow government bodies and businesses of all kinds to access crucial information in order to address global challenges.

Posidonia, a name with local roots and a global mission

The satellite's name is no coincidence. Posidonia is a marine plant endemic to the Mediterranean that acts as an underwater lung and natural barrier against erosion. Giving this name to a satellite that will protect the marine and terrestrial environment all the way from space is a declaration of intent: science, territory and sustainability united in a single project.

If everything goes according to plan, in a few months a small capsule with a Balearic identity will orbit the Earth to help Mallorca and the rest of the islands to remain a prosperous place among sea, land and sky. A paradise watched over from the stars.