UPTEC-based Open Cosmos launches Europe’s first 6G test satellite into orbit

Open Cosmos, a satellite design, manufacturing and operations company based at UPTEC, has launched two innovative satellites into orbit aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 (Transporter 15) mission. The launch included the 6GStarLab, the first telecommunications laboratory for 6G testing in low Earth orbit, alongside a new satellite integrated into the company’s shared Open Constellation infrastructure.

The 6GStarLab mission represents Europe’s first open and flexible in-orbit platform dedicated to experimentation with 6G non-terrestrial networks. Designed to allow researchers to test new communication technologies in a real space environment, the platform aims to accelerate innovation in areas such as remote communications, telemedicine, distance learning, disaster prevention and mitigation, and autonomous mobility.

The second satellite strengthens the Open Constellation, a shared satellite infrastructure developed by Open Cosmos to provide high-quality, frequent Earth observation data. Equipped with a hyperspectral imager, the satellite can identify and quantify specific materials, chemical compositions and subtle environmental changes, including crop health, mineral deposits and pollution types, while storing and processing data in orbit.

This new mission enables organisations across sectors such as agriculture, energy, insurance and environmental monitoring to make faster, data-driven decisions without the typical cost or complexity of satellite systems. The satellite also incorporates advanced telecommunications and onboard data processing technology developed by Connected, a UPTEC-incubated startup acquired by Open Cosmos earlier this year, further enhancing real-time insights and in-orbit data analysis.