The vision of a satellite capable of identifying movements in the dark ocean is getting closer to reality. The <a href="https://www.argentina.gob.ar/ciencia/conae” target=”_blank”>National Commission on Space Activities (CONAE) is working diligently to make this possible in the first half of 2027.
SABIA-Mar: A Step Towards Maritime Surveillance
The SABIA-Mar, or Satellite for Applications Based on Marine Environmental Information, is in its final stage of integration and testing, after its manufacturing was completed at INVAP, Bariloche. This satellite is designed to monitor the color of the sea and measure chlorophyll, a crucial indicator of phytoplankton. However, its mission has evolved into a strategic security tool.
Incorporating advanced technology, SABIA-Mar will provide vital data for fishery production, scientific research, and environmental monitoring of the Argentine Sea. Its high-sensitivity camera will allow, even in the dead of night, to identify fishing patterns and detect vessels operating without an Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal, known as “non-cooperative” vessels.
These capabilities are crucial for monitoring the Mile 201, an area frequently visited by vessels that turn off their trackers to fish illegally. The advanced resolution of its sensors will surpass that of predecessor satellites, improving data correlation on fishing activity and fleet behaviors.
The satellite will not only contribute to security. It will also offer critical observations on water quality in coasts and inland water bodies, alerting about events such as red tides that can affect marine fauna and human health.
Weighing 650 kilos, the SABIA-Mar will operate at an altitude of 702 kilometers. But its innovation doesn’t stop there. It includes the AGR-T receiver, developed by the National University of La Plata, which will ensure unprecedented precision in determining its position and speed in orbit.
This receiver is the first global navigation system of Argentine origin on an Earth observation satellite. The national government has already tendered the satellite’s launch for 26.5 million dollars, with estimates for April or May 2027.
With INVAP leading the construction and VENG supporting operations and telecommunications, the project also incorporates advanced encryption methods to protect the integrity of its flight software, thus reinforcing the mission’s security in an increasingly cyberattack-vulnerable space environment.
The SABIA-Mar mission aligns with other recent achievements of the Argentine space sector, such as the Atenea project that participated in NASA’s Artemis II mission. With its surveillance and environmental monitoring capabilities, the SABIA-Mar promises to be a valuable asset for Argentina’s security and technological sovereignty.
