30 July 2026 – Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed a contract with OHB Italia for the development of the PRISMA Second Generation Earth observation satellite for the Italian Space Agency (ASI). Scheduled for launch in 2031, the satellite will carry a hyperspectral instrument, built by Leonardo, featuring enhanced functional and resolution capabilities compared to the first generation. A key challenge in hyperspectral technology is capturing images with high quality and spatial resolution, along with frequent revisit times and a high signal-to-noise ratio. The PRISMA Second Generation satellite will enable improved spatial resolution through enhanced agility of both the platform and the instrument, increasing spatial resolution to at least 10 meters, compared to the current 30 meters. Additionally, it will introduce new functional capabilities designed to meet the diverse requirements of both scientific and operational users. Read more