ARQUIMEA Appoints Antonio Abad as New CEO of CanarySat Satellite Services

• With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, Antonio Abad will lead the launch of the new satellite operator based in Tenerife, as well as its main constellation program in this new stage of growth.
• CanarySat will design the future LEO communications satellite constellation to provide secure, global broadband connectivity for businesses and governments.

Madrid, November 11. ARQUIMEA, a technology company in the space sector, has appointed Antonio Abad as the new CEO of CanarySat Satellite Services, the Group company responsible for executing the LEO satellite constellation program through which ARQUIMEA aims to change the paradigm of secure satellite communications.
With over 30 years of experience in the aerospace industry, Antonio Abad is one of the most recognized figures among satellite communications operators. As Technical Director of Hispasat for decades, his technical background and strategic vision have led him to oversee the launch of eleven GEO satellites and direct strategic projects for Spain and Europe. These include the world’s first GEO-orbit quantum key distribution mission (GEO-QKD), Hispasat’s participation in the SpaceRise consortium for the development of the European IRIS2 constellation, and the creation of the first European lunar communications operator through the Moonlight program. Antonio is also a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, the Académie de l’Air et de l’Espace, an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He is also a frequent collaborator with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Spanish Space Agency (AEE), among others.

“It is an honor to take on the leadership of a project with such transformative potential,” said Antonio. “LEO satellite constellations represent the future of space, and my goal is to bring to this mission all the experience and knowledge accumulated over more than three decades in the sector.”

In this new stage, Antonio Abad will lead the implementation of the infrastructure and the team that will build and operate the future constellation. The first goal will be to launch two satellites in 2027 to conduct a proof-of-concept of the service with key customers.
CanarySat will lead the future LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite communications constellation in Ka band promoted by ARQUIMEA to offer global, secure, and low-latency connectivity services. The program aims to strengthen Spain’s and Europe’s position in the satellite operations field. From his new position, Antonio Abad will lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers, technicians, and managers to make CanarySat a leading company among satellite operators. This appointment comes at a decisive moment for the project, which is currently in the process of expanding its investment.

About ARQUIMEA

ARQUIMEA is a Spanish technology company that operates globally in high-demand sectors such as aerospace, defense, scientific industry, and fintech.
With 20 years of experience, it collaborates in the space sector with major space agencies such as NASA, JAXA, and ESA, as well as leading traditional and New Space companies, international consortia, universities, and research centers.
Today, ARQUIMEA has become a comprehensive supplier capable of developing and manufacturing complete satellites, thermal systems, structures, mechanisms, avionics, microelectronics, and optical instruments.