The SpainSat NG II satellite before launch. Photo: Airbus Defence and Space SAS

Spanish company Indra Group disclosed that the SpainSat NG II satellite that launched in October was impacted by space debris during the orbit-raising process. 

Indra Group, the majority partner of Spanish operator Hisdesat, said in a Jan. 2 statement that the satellite “suffered the impact of a space particle during its journey to its final orbital position” at 50,000 km. 

“The technical team is analyzing the available data to determine the extent of the damage. If necessary, SpainSat NG II will be replaced as soon as possible,” the statement said. 

A contingency plan is in place for Spain’s Ministry of Defence and other clients. 

The SpainSat NG II satellite was built by Airbus and launched in late October. It is the second of two satellites for the Spanish Armed Forces, the European Commission, NATO, and allied governments. The first SpainSat satellite was launched in January 2025.