IRIS² (''Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite'') is a planned multi-orbit

satellite internet constellation A satellite internet constellation is a constellation of artificial satellites providing satellite internet service. In particular, the term has come to refer to a new generation of very large constellations (sometimes referred to as a megacon ...

to be deployed by the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...

by 2027. It is intended to provide service to governmental agencies as well as commercial service to private entities. Its conception is a direct response to an increasing number of large satellite internet constellations outside of the control of the EU, such as

Starlink Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, providing satellite Internet access coverage to 45 countries. It also aims for global mobile phone service after 2023. SpaceX started launching Starlink satellites in 2019. As ...

or the forthcoming Kuiper project. The total budget for the project is projected at €2.4 billion, to be funded from the

Multiannual Financial Framework The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) of the European Union, also called the financial perspective, is a seven-year framework regulating its annual budget. It is laid down in a unanimously adopted Council Regulation with the consent of the Eu ...

2021-2027. In addition to its use for communications, there are also plans to use IRIS² for

space surveillance Space domain awareness is the study and monitoring of satellites orbiting the earth. It involves the detection, tracking, cataloging and identification of artificial objects, i.e. active/inactive satellites, spent rocket bodies, or fragmentatio ...

, and to detect high-altitude spy balloons. IRIS² is part of an overall EU space strategy that will include the forthcoming EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence.

History

The project was first announced by the

Council of the EU The Council of the European Union, often referred to in the treaties and other official documents simply as the Council, and informally known as the Council of Ministers, is the third of the seven Institutions of the European Union (EU) as ...

in November 2022. , the project is still in its planning stages.

History

References

See also