{
  "id": 14520973,
  "title": "Colombia Plans to Launch FACSAT-3A Satellite in 2028",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/colombia-plans-to-launch-facsat-3a-satellite-in-2028",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T19:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/10/14/colombia-facsat-3a-satellite-launch-2028/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Colombia announced plans on August 20, 2026, to launch its first satellite in a new three-spacecraft constellation, FACSAT-3A, in 2028. This marks a new phase for the Colombian Air Force (FAC), which is reentering the satellite design and technology transfer arena following the reentry of FACSAT-2 Chiribiquete in October 2025. The FAC aims to enhance its Earth-observation capabilities for military operations, environmental monitoring, and disaster response. The construction and launch of FACSAT-3A are estimated to cost over $15 million, while the entire constellation is projected to exceed $32.2 million. The FAC has secured funding for the initial phase, but additional investment will be required for the full constellation. Maj. Gen. Juan Jaime Martínez Ossa, the FAC's commander, outlined the project on October 1. The FACSAT-3A satellite will be used for Earth observation, providing imagery to support security operations and civilian applications, such as monitoring deforestation, illegal mining, and natural resource exploitation, as well as disaster response and supporting agriculture, environmental protection, and territorial planning. The FAC has not yet published detailed technical specifications for the constellation, but future spacecraft are expected to follow in subsequent phases. FACSAT-2 Chiribiquete, the previous satellite, reentered Earth's atmosphere on October 27, 2025, due to increased solar activity causing higher atmospheric drag. The FAC acknowledged the reentry on November 11, 2025, but discrepancies in published updates led to questions about the satellite's status. The FAC's objective in FACSAT-3 is to increase the development of satellites by Colombian engineers, with cooperation from the Corporation for High Technology for Defense (CODALTEC). This program aims to expand local expertise in mission design, assembly, integration, and testing, with the FAC's initial phase starting on October 18, 2026, and involving 12 officers and noncommissioned officers. The program seeks to transfer technology progressively, enabling Colombia to assume a larger share of satellite development work in later missions.",
  "summary": "Colombia plans to launch FACSAT-3A, the first satellite in a new three-spacecraft constellation, in 2028. The Colombian Air Force (FAC) is entering a new phase of satellite design and technology transfer following the October 2025 reentry of FACSAT-2 Chiribiquete. The program aims to expand Colombia’s Earth-observation capabilities for military operations, environmental monitoring, and disaster…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}