CanarySat launches ARQSAT1, the first technology demonstrator of its MAGEC constellation to validate advanced inorbit propulsion

CanarySat has successfully launched ARQSAT1, the first satellite linked to its MAGEC constellation program, recently unveiled at the 2026 Satellite Show in Washington. The launch took place during the night of March 29-30 aboard a SpaceX launcher from California, in an operation managed by ARQUIMEA, the company responsible for the satellite's technological development. This milestone marks the operational start of MAGEC, a constellation designed to deliver secure and resilient communications from low Earth orbit (LEO).

ARQSAT-1, the first satellite of the program to reach LEO, has been conceived as a technology demonstrator for advanced propulsion, a critical capability on which the constellation's architecture relies. Its mission will validate, under real flight conditions, a high-efficiency system designed to optimize orbital control and resource usage.

During its operation, the satellite will perform specific maneuvers to assess the performance of the propulsion system and collect key data to support its future integration into the MAGEC constellation. This in-orbit validation is an essential step to reduce technological risk and accelerate the deployment of the infrastructure.

The ability to carry out precise maneuvers with optimized consumption is one of the differentiating factors in the development of satellite constellations, especially in a context marked by increasing space congestion and the need to maximize operational efficiency. In this regard, the technology tested by ARQSAT-1 is designed to provide a direct competitive advantage to MAGEC.

The propulsion system has been developed by ARQUIMEA, and its in-orbit validation strengthens the technological foundation on which CanarySat, as part of the group, builds its value proposition.

"ARQSAT1 represents the first tangible step in executing our constellation. Validating in orbit critical technologies such as advanced propulsion allows us to accelerate the development of MAGEC and consolidate differentiating capabilities from the earliest phases," said Antonio Abad, CEO of CanarySat.

With this launch, CanarySat advances its strategy to deploy a new generation of space infrastructures, combining technological innovation, operational efficiency, and scalability. The MAGEC constellation is designed to support both commercial and institutional/security applications.