The National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA), an agency of the Ministry of Defense, has launched a tender for the installation of a parabolic antenna between 8,5 and 11,5 meters in diameter at the Maspalomas Space Center (Gran Canaria). The infrastructure will enable the tracking of satellite missions in low Earth orbit (LEO) dedicated to Earth observation, with a budget of €4,2 million before taxes. The bidding process is scheduled to begin this November.
The new ground station will operate in the S, X, and Ka frequency bands, the same ones used by the most advanced satellites of the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA. Its commissioning will once again place Maspalomas on the strategic map of European space, reinforcing its legacy as a key link between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
The contract specifications also include the supply of spare parts for the main equipment to guarantee operability and maintenance for at least a decade, as well as strict technical requirements for the system's safety and reliability. The deadline for submitting bids is September 16, according to the tender published in the Official State Gazette on August 20.
INTA already manages large-scale stations such as the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex (MDSCC), used by NASA in Robledo de Chavela, and is participating with the ESA in the development of the Large European Antenna (LEA). With this new facility, Maspalomas is consolidating its position as a key location for the control and transmission of space data, in a context of growing global interest in Earth observation technologies, defense, and climate monitoring.
