Danish climate satellite DISCO-2 set for launch on the Transporter-16 Rideshare Mission

• DISCO-2, a Danish student-built climate satellite supported by Space Inventor, is set for launch
• The mission will collect data on glacier activity and sea temperature changes around Greenland, supporting critical climate research into rising sea levels
• Developed in collaboration with leading Danish universities, DISCO-2 highlights a growing model of industry–academic partnership delivering advanced, mission-ready satellite capability.
• Space Inventor has two satellites on the same launch - one for climate science, the other for a confidential defense mission - each for returning customers.
   

Aalborg, Denmark - 26th March 

Space Inventor has announced that the DISCO-2 satellite, developed in collaboration with leading Danish universities, has completed launch integration via Exolaunch and is ready for launch aboard the Transporter-16 rideshare mission with SpaceX, scheduled no earlier than later this month from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The mission marks an important milestone for Denmark’s growing space ecosystem, bringing together academic innovation and industrial expertise to deliver a fully operational satellite designed for climate research.

DISCO-2 has been developed to support climate monitoring by capturing imagery of glaciers and measuring sea temperature differences around Greenland’s fjords. These observations will contribute to a deeper understanding of how warming ocean conditions are accelerating ice melt and impacting global sea levels. As Greenland continues to play a critical role in global climate systems, the mission will provide valuable new data from orbit to support ongoing scientific research.

The satellite was developed by students from Aarhus University, the University of Southern Denmark, and the IT University of Copenhagen as part of the DISCO programme - a national initiative designed to advance Danish space capabilities through hands-on engineering experience. Over several years, students led the design, development and testing of the satellite in close collaboration with Danish industry.

Space Inventor played a key role in supporting the mission, providing expertise across mechanical design, system architecture, testing and validation to ensure the satellite is fully prepared for operation in space. The collaboration reflects a broader model of industry-academic partnership, where practical engineering experience is combined with real mission delivery.

In addition to DISCO-2, Space Inventor will also have a second satellite on board the mission, developed for a confidential government customer, also manifested by Exolaunch.

Mathias Ernst Halvorson, Head of Mechanical Engineering at Space Inventor:
“It’s exciting for us to support both Danish universities and the science of climate monitoring through advanced satellite technology. Together with the students, we are delivering what is likely the most compact and advanced 3U satellite of its kind. This launch also marks a significant milestone for Space Inventor - with two satellites on a single mission, both serving returning customers.”

The DISCO programme is supported by the Danish Industry Foundation, the Carlsberg Foundation, the Thomas B. Thriges Foundation, the Otto Mønsted Foundation and the European Space Agency (ESA), and is designed to give students the opportunity to develop real-world space systems. The mission highlights the role of collaborative programmes in strengthening national capabilities while supporting the next generation of engineers.

“DISCO-2 is the result of a unique student effort to build a satellite at a technological level normally only seen in professional space programs,” says Christoffer Karoff, head of DISCO. 

“Based on our previous experience with Space Inventor, we knew how critical it was to collaborate with an experienced New Space player who could both mentor the students and help ensure the project’s success.”

Once in orbit, DISCO-2 will begin collecting environmental data over Greenland, contributing to international efforts to better understand climate change and its global impact.

The launch represents the culmination of a multi-year collaboration and demonstrates how smaller, agile teams can deliver advanced satellite systems capable of supporting both scientific and societal goals.

About Space Inventor
Space Inventor is a Danish satellite manufacturer and second-generation New Space leader founded in 2015. Guided by the promise to make space for progress, the company specializes in "flexible modularity," combining standardized, flight-proven modules with bespoke customization to deliver robust satellites for government, defense, and commercial missions. Headquartered in Aalborg, Denmark with offices in Copenhagen and Leuven, Belgium, Space Inventor operates with full vertical integration and non-ITAR compliance, offering partners a transparent, high-quality path to orbit that is designed, built, and tested in Europe. Continue reading on www.space-inventor.com