Through its Directorate-General of Procurement (DAD), the Spanish Air and Space Force’s (EA) Logistics Support Command (MALOG) has awarded GMV a contract for the integration and deployment of a simulator that will be used in orbital mechanics training for all its personnel involved in space operations. GMV will also be providing maintenance services and instructions on use.

In recent years, space operations have become increasingly important in military operations, and the communication, location, and monitoring needs of armed forces are increasingly dependent on the capabilities provided by satellite systems. In addition, there has been a significant increase in risks and threats to these assets in the space domain, including hazards both natural (e.g., space weather and asteroids) and man-made, whether unintentional (e.g., possible collisions with space debris and dangers linked to an increase in megaconstellations) or intentional threats resulting from the militarization of the space domain. 

The growing importance of this field is evidenced by the new name of the Air and Space Force (“Space” was added in 2022) and the creation of the Space Command (MESPA) in 2023, the latter encompassing Spain’s Space Surveillance and Operations Center (COVE).

Since it was launched in 2019, the COVE has been steadily developing its capabilities and space situational awareness and surveillance tools, with its operational workforce growing each year. In order to enhance these capabilities, space operations personnel must be adequately qualified and properly trained for this work. Specifically, they must have an extensive, in-depth understanding of the space domain and, in particular, of orbital mechanics (also known as astrodynamics).

GMV, which has been serving the COVE from the very beginning by supplying software tools and providing support in international space cooperation exercises such as Global Sentinel, recently won a contract for the provision of a simulator to be used in advanced orbital mechanics training. This contract includes training and development activities in this area at various educational facilities, as well as training for personnel from units, centers, and organizations involved in space operations, especially at the COVE. 

The simulator is expected to be available by late 2025, and it will be used as a training and operational tool for Air and Space Force personnel starting in 2026. Due to the project deadlines and its suitability for providing the required features, the solution for the simulator will be based on Ecosstm, GMV’s COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) software for space surveillance systems, already being used in operational centers such as the German military’s space surveillance system (Weltraumlagezentrum), the civilian space surveillance systems of several other countries, such as Greece, and GMV’s commercial space surveillance operations center (Focusoc). It will also be the foundation of the COVE’s space surveillance system (Space Situational Awareness and Control System, or CCSE), which will be launched in 2025.

This contract strengthens GMV’s leadership in the development of space surveillance, command, and control systems in Europe and its commitment to providing advanced solutions that contribute to the safety of the Armed Forces’ space operations.