The first comprehensive national space plan was presented by the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, in the presence of the Prime Minister, at a special event held on the morning of Friday, June 26, at the Hellenic World Foundation – “Hellenic World” Center. The title of the event is: “Greece in Orbit – Greece in Orbit.”
The Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, Dimitris Papastergiou, announced Greece’s new national space program, “HELLAS-SPACE 2.0,” with a budget of approximately 350 million euros, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). As the minister stated: “Greece has been put into orbit. We are transforming space technologies into tangible benefits for citizens.”
Program Objectives
According to the minister, the program’s main objective is to strengthen civil protection against wildfires and floods, maritime surveillance and support for the Coast Guard’s work, the promotion of precision agriculture for farmers and the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), border security and defense, as well as secure communications for the islands and remote areas.
A second important goal is to strengthen the Greek aerospace industry. “We want to see you become leaders in Europe, but also exporting technology and products on a global scale,” Dimitris Papastergiou stated, emphasizing that it is important to establish domestic production lines so that added value remains in Greece. The new program will enable the development of cutting-edge technologies, which until now have been the exclusive domain of a handful of leading global companies.
Furthermore, the minister announced the launch of the Pan-Hellenic Student Space Program, through which high school students from all over Greece will design, build, and launch real nanosatellites into orbit. ““Just as Adrianos began with dreams from a school in Thessaly, in Larissa, and will reach as high as any human can go, so too should other children,” he said, referring to Greece’s first astronaut candidate, Adrianos Golemis.
“We are building a new, more modern, and more just state; we are supporting Greek innovation; we are bringing our people back home; and we are inspiring an entire generation to dream big. As high as the human spirit can reach,” concluded Dimitris Papastergiou.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke with Adrianos Golemis, a space mission physician who is completing his training as an astronaut at the European Space Agency (ESA). As he emphasized: “I don’t think many people in 2019 would have imagined that Greece would be where it is today, with several satellites in space, a very dynamic ecosystem centered on space technologies developing products and applications, and the Greek government—through the Recovery Fund—having secured 350 million for the next four years to finance our upcoming space initiatives.”
Technological Leap
“I see technology—and by this I mean space technologies, artificial intelligence, and all the applications related to our digital policy— —a tremendous opportunity for the country to take a giant leap forward and surpass countries that may have been ahead of us simply because they did not go through a major crisis.”
Mr. Golemis will be in space for the next two years. This is an investment we are making as a country, one that has both symbolic and practical value. I would like Adrian to convey this message primarily to schools and to young people, because space is important, and to serve as a catalyst for inspiration. It is a wonderful moment for our country—a significant moment—to be able to say that within this timeframe we will have our first Greek astronaut.
The discussion was moderated by Pavlos Kastanas, an M.Sc. in astrophysics and creator of the Astronio YouTube channel.
Adrianos Golemis remarked: “Having worked as a mission physician for the ESA and currently participating in European astronaut training, I am particularly pleased with Greece’s decision to move forward with a future mission to the ISS. This development marks significant progress for our country in the space sector, through European cooperation. A great challenge and opportunity lie ahead of us. Through collective effort, we can envision Greece even closer to the stars.”
Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis spoke about the Recovery Fund’s contribution to the development of the Greek space ecosystem.
As he put it: “Investing in space is not a luxury. It is a strategic choice linked to the country’s resilience, security, competitiveness, and sustainable development. In this context, the use of resources from the Recovery and Resilience Fund takes on particular significance, as it aligns with projects that strengthen the country’s technological autonomy and create high added value.
A prime example is the National Space Program. A program with a particularly significant developmental dimension, it serves as a springboard for the development of a strong ecosystem of Greek companies in the aerospace sector, strengthens the link between research and production, and creates new highly specialized jobs. Above all, however, it gives our country the opportunity to develop domestic expertise.”
The Director General of the European Space Agency, Josef Aschbacher, spoke about Greece’s future at ESA, emphasizing: “Greece has evolved into a dynamic and flexible force in the European space sector. Through your strong collaboration with ESA, you are at the forefront of cutting-edge capabilities in satellites, Earth observation, data applications, and innovative startups, all of which make a tangible difference in the lives of your citizens.
Together, we are turning ambition into concrete projects—from fire monitoring to advanced communications—strengthening Europe’s space future and creating opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and resilience.”
National Autonomy
During the event, the Secretary General for Telecommunications and Postal Services, Konstantinos Karantzalos, highlighted the country’s transition from a mere user of space services to a designer, manufacturer, and operator of its own satellites, which are now controlled from Greek territory. “In an era of geopolitical uncertainty, the ability to observe, stay informed, communicate, and make decisions using one’s own resources is a national necessity, while space is emerging as a critical tool for national autonomy,” he noted.
The president of the Hellenic Space Agency (ELKED), Manolis Rammos, underscored the importance of the national space strategy, which sets clear short-term and long-term goals and ensures the coordination of public and private investments across the entire ecosystem.
Katerina Kavvada, Director at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defense, Industry, and Space (DEFIS), and Dr. Jorge Sanchez, Head of ESA BIC Greece and Coordinator of the Greek Space Cluster, discussed the increasingly close coordination of European space and defense policies, noting that many space technologies and infrastructures are inherently dual-use, serving both civilian and defense needs. They noted that in recent years, the Greek space ecosystem has made significant progress, with an increase in the number of innovative companies, the development of new products and services, and the expansion of Greek entities’ participation in European programs.
Regarding the National Space Program “HELLAS-SPACE 2.0”
The “HELLAS-SPACE 2.0” program, with a budget of 350 million euros, is funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility and has a duration of 4 years; is being implemented in collaboration with the European Space Agency and the Hellenic Space Agency and is the direct successor to the first national microsatellite program (€200 million). Its goal is to strengthen national capabilities, European autonomy, and resilience.
The program was designed with the actual needs of end users in the public sector and society in mind. It will strengthen civil protection, the work of the Coast Guard, rural development, border security, and national defense, while contributing to the provision of resilient and secure communications and sovereign navigation services for the islands, remote areas, critical infrastructure, and public agencies.
About the Pan-Hellenic Student Space Program
In this context, the Pan-Hellenic Student Space Program is being launched for secondary school students. The program’s goal is for middle and high school students to design, build, and launch real nanosatellites into orbit.
Student teams from all over Greece will develop up to eight PocketQube-type nanosatellites, which will be launched into space and will operate as a small satellite constellation managed by the students themselves, while schools across the country will participate as ground stations.
The program combines hands-on experience in space engineering with the European Space Agency’s international standards for educational missions, utilizing open-source technology developed in Greece. The goal is to bring space sciences into the classroom and foster STEM skills in an entire generation of young people.