Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
The Instituto Astrofísico de Canarias (IAC) is a Spanish research institute dedicated to astronomy and astrophysics. It operates the Observatorios de Canarias, which include the largest collection of telescopes in the EU and the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), and also develops space-based instrumentation. Through its IACTEC-Space division, IAC designs and builds small satellite payloads like the DRAGO infrared cameras for Earth observation, partnering with organizations like ESA and companies like Open Cosmos to monitor natural disasters and climate change. IAC's activities also include developing space telescopes like the IACSAT Astro-1 for exoplanet research.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The European Space Agency approved Arrakihs with the backing of its 23 member states at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias.
The European Space Agency approved Arrakihs with the backing of its 23 member states at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias in Tenerife.
ESA’s Science Programme Committee decided on Arrakihs during a meeting at the Instituto Astrofísico de Canarias in Tenerife on 10–11 June 2026.
The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), the Instituto Tecnológico y de Energías Renovables (ITER), the University of La Laguna, and the Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Tenerife are participants in Tenerife Space Horizon (TSH).
The Cabildo de Tenerife maintains a collaboration with the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias that involves 22 researchers working on New Space lines including development of advanced optics such as Drago 3 and the precursor satellite Alisio 1.
The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) will present the Drago-3 camera, a non-refrigerated SWIR sensor with five times the resolution of Drago-2 and applications for monitoring fires, volcanoes, and water resources.
La gestión y el desarrollo del proyecto serán a cargo del Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias y su división Iactec-Espacio.
The mission includes DRAGO-2, a compact short-wave infrared (SWIR) camera developed by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) for Earth observation.
The ALISIO-1 satellite’s payload was fully developed by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias and is an upgraded version of the DRAGO short-wave infrared space camera.
Open Cosmos partnered with the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) to develop and launch the Alisio-1 satellite.