SABIA-Mar – Argentine ocean and coastal observation satellite (Satellite for Applications Based on Environmental Information of the Sea)

SABIA-Mar is the Earth-observation satellite of Argentina's space agency, CONAE, built to study the sea, coasts and inland waters. Its main job is to measure ocean colour, from which chlorophyll-a, turbidity and harmful algal blooms ("red tides") can be estimated. The data support fisheries management, water quality monitoring and ecosystem studies. A later payload upgrade added a high-sensitivity camera that sees lights at sea at night, helping to spot fishing fleets that have switched off their AIS transponders. CONAE's lead scientist notes that it detects lights, not boats, and may miss small vessels.

The mission has roots in a November 1998 Argentina–Brazil agreement on a joint observation system, redefined in 2008. The satellite was formerly called SAC-E. In 2014 Argentina approved a US$70 million loan from CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean) for design, build and launch. The preliminary design phase was passed in April 2016; the satellite Critical Design Review in April 2018, when manufacturing began; the ground segment Critical Design Review in May 2018; and the Mission Critical Design Review in April 2023 (CONAE's mission page says 2022). The plan was once a two-satellite pair, with Brazil building SABIA-Mar 2 on its Multi-Mission Platform. In 2023 Brazil proposed using Amazonia-1B instead, as its contribution.

INVAP is prime contractor for design, build, integration and testing, and supplies two of the three main cameras. The satellite weighs about 650 kg (older sources say 550 kg). It carries visible/near-infrared and near-infrared/short-wave infrared cameras (200 m regional and 800 m global resolution; swath about 1,500 km), a thermal infrared camera, the high-sensitivity camera, an Argos-compatible data collection system, a Liulin-AR radiation monitor and the AGR-T GNSS receiver. The AGR-T was built by the SENyT group at the National University of La Plata and is the first Argentine-made GNSS receiver on a CONAE Earth-observation satellite. Four solar panels (10 m², 2,400 W) were tested at CONAE's Córdoba laboratory with CNEA, VENG and INVAP in 2023. Planned orbit is sun-synchronous at 702 km, with a two-day revisit and a five-year design life.

Setbacks: launch was promised for early 2025 in 2023; it is now first half of 2027. In April 2026 CONAE opened an international tender for the launch service (valued at US$26.5 million), breaking with past state-to-state deals. One newspaper questioned whether it favoured a local start-up. One report names Avio's Vega-C from Kourou as the launcher; CONAE has not confirmed this.

Next: the integration review was passed in August 2026 and environmental tests (acoustic, vibration, thermal vacuum) are under way. VENG will run operations in orbit from the Teófilo Tabanera Space Centre, Córdoba. A search on 9 Nov 2026 found no award of the launch contract and no change to the first-half-2027 launch plan.

Milestone path

1. Nov 1998 (redefined 2008)

   Argentina–Brazil observation agreement

   Achieved

   Argentina and Brazil agreed on a joint Earth-observation system, the origin of SABIA-Mar. The plan was redefined in 2008.

   Why it matters: It is a rare long-running South American space partnership.

2. 2014 (year only)

   US$70m CAF loan approved

   Achieved

   Argentina approved a US$70 million loan from CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean) to design, build and launch the satellite.

   Why it matters: Multilateral lending made the mission possible; US$69.3m has been drawn.

3. Apr 2018

   Critical design review; manufacturing starts

   Achieved

   The satellite passed its Critical Design Review and manufacturing began at INVAP. The ground segment review followed in May 2018.

   Why it matters: Design freeze let INVAP and Argentine suppliers start building hardware.

4. Apr 2023 (CONAE mission page says 2022)

   Mission critical design review

   Latest

   The whole mission, including the ground segment, passed its Critical Design Review.

   Why it matters: It cleared the way for final integration.

Milestone path

1. Aug 2023 (reported 18 Aug 2023)

   Solar panel tests completed

   Achieved

   The four solar panels (10 m², 2,400 W) passed tests at CONAE's Córdoba laboratory, with CNEA, VENG and INVAP.

   Why it matters: A local supply chain delivered and tested a key subsystem.

2. Oct 2023 (reported 19 Oct 2023)

   Camera tests successful

   Achieved

   CONAE reported successful tests of the satellite's cameras.

   Why it matters: The ocean-colour cameras are the core of the mission.

3. Late Apr 2026

   International launch tender opened

   Achieved

   CONAE opened an international tender for the launch service, valued at US$26.5 million, with a January–October 2027 window.

   Why it matters: It breaks with past state-to-state launch deals and is open to commercial providers.

4. Jul 2026 (reported 14–17 Jul 2026)

   Manufacturing finished; final tests begin

   Latest

   Manufacturing was completed at INVAP in Bariloche, and final environmental tests began. A night-light camera upgrade was added.

   Why it matters: The night camera adds the ability to spot lights from fishing fleets at sea.

Milestone path

1. Aug 2026 (reported 6 Oct 2026)

   Integration review passed

   Achieved

   The integration review was passed, and acoustic, vibration and thermal-vacuum tests are under way.

   Why it matters: Environmental tests are the last big technical hurdle before shipment.

2. 26 Oct 2026 (CONAE headline; text not opened)

   Ground segment qualification review passed

   Latest

   CONAE reported that the ground segment and flight operations qualification review was passed.

   Why it matters: The Córdoba ground station and VENG's operations team must be ready before launch.

3. Early 2027 (before launch; date not published)

   Shipment to launch site

   Planned

   After final tests, the satellite will be shipped to the launch site.

   What to watch: the launch tender award and launcher choice, not confirmed by CONAE as of 9 Nov 2026.

4. First half of 2027 (INVAP: April–May possible)

   Launch into 702 km orbit

   Planned

   SABIA-Mar is due to launch into a 702 km sun-synchronous orbit for a five-year mission, operated by VENG from Córdoba.

   What to watch: launch date, launcher, and first ocean-colour data release.