Inside Italian defence tech (2026)
Jul 17
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Fino Mornasco, Italy
Lisbon, Portugal
London, United KingdomBoulder, United StatesBari, Italy
Athens, GreeceFino Mornasco, ItalyLisbon, PortugalLondon, United KingdomBoulder, United StatesBari, ItalyAthens, Greece
Products & Solutions
ION Satellite Carrier
A proprietary orbital transfer vehicle that transports satellites from a rideshare launch's parking orbit to their precise operational orbits. ION supports rideshare deployment, precision orbit insertion, constellation phasing and hosted payload operations. It reduces time from launch to operations by up to 85% compared to conventional rideshare.
Aurora
A cloud-based mission control software platform for small satellite operators. Aurora provides telemetry monitoring, command management, anomaly alerting and 2D/3D orbit visualisation through a web interface accessible from any device. It integrates with global ground station networks including Leaf Space and Amazon AWS Ground Station, and supports AES-256 encryption with two-factor authentication.
GEA
A robotic in-orbit servicing spacecraft under development, designed to extend the operational lifespan of satellites in geostationary orbit. GEA uses dual-arm manipulators, advanced propulsion and AI-powered diagnostics to perform inspection, repair, component replacement, orbital repositioning and end-of-life disposal. Validation is planned for the RISE mission, scheduled for 2029 in collaboration with ESA.
Videos
ION Satellite Carrier - CGI
Aurora - Cloud Based Mission Control Software Suite
ION CGI - full
About
D-Orbit is an Italian space logistics company founded in 2011 by Luca Rossettini and Renato Panesi, headquartered in Fino Mornasco, Como. It was among the first companies to build a commercial business around in-space transportation, treating the gap between a rocket's parking orbit and a satellite's operational orbit as a logistics problem worth solving.
Offices
Fino Mornasco, ItalyLisbon, PortugalLondon, United KingdomBoulder, United StatesBari, ItalyAthens, GreeceBacked by
Azimut GroupMarubeni CorporationIberis CapitalPhaistos Investment FundEuropean Investment BankEuropean Investment Fund
Customers & Partners
European Space Agency (ESA)Marubeni CorporationLeaf SpaceAmazon Web Services (AWS)
Timeline
2026-01
Closed $53 million Series D round led by Azimut Group to fund acquisitions and expand in-space computing capacity.
2025-04
Completed strategic business combination with Planetek group, adding cloud space applications and Earth observation data processing capabilities.
2024-09
Closed Series C at €150 million total, with investors including European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund.
2024-01
Raised first €100 million tranche of Series C funding with Marubeni Corporation as lead investor.
2011
Founded in Fino Mornasco, Italy by Luca Rossettini and Renato Panesi.
Products & Solutions
ION Satellite Carrier
A proprietary orbital transfer vehicle that transports satellites from a rideshare launch's parking orbit to their precise operational orbits. ION supports rideshare deployment, precision orbit insertion, constellation phasing and hosted payload operations. It reduces time from launch to operations by up to 85% compared to conventional rideshare.
Aurora
A cloud-based mission control software platform for small satellite operators. Aurora provides telemetry monitoring, command management, anomaly alerting and 2D/3D orbit visualisation through a web interface accessible from any device. It integrates with global ground station networks including Leaf Space and Amazon AWS Ground Station, and supports AES-256 encryption with two-factor authentication.
GEA
A robotic in-orbit servicing spacecraft under development, designed to extend the operational lifespan of satellites in geostationary orbit. GEA uses dual-arm manipulators, advanced propulsion and AI-powered diagnostics to perform inspection, repair, component replacement, orbital repositioning and end-of-life disposal. Validation is planned for the RISE mission, scheduled for 2029 in collaboration with ESA.
Videos
ION Satellite Carrier - CGI
Aurora - Cloud Based Mission Control Software Suite
ION CGI - full
About
D-Orbit is an Italian space logistics company founded in 2011 by Luca Rossettini and Renato Panesi, headquartered in Fino Mornasco, Como. It was among the first companies to build a commercial business around in-space transportation, treating the gap between a rocket's parking orbit and a satellite's operational orbit as a logistics problem worth solving.
Offices
Fino Mornasco, ItalyLisbon, PortugalLondon, United KingdomBoulder, United StatesBari, ItalyAthens, GreeceBacked by
Azimut GroupMarubeni CorporationIberis CapitalPhaistos Investment FundEuropean Investment BankEuropean Investment Fund
Customers & Partners
European Space Agency (ESA)Marubeni CorporationLeaf SpaceAmazon Web Services (AWS)
Timeline
2026-01
Closed $53 million Series D round led by Azimut Group to fund acquisitions and expand in-space computing capacity.
2025-04
Completed strategic business combination with Planetek group, adding cloud space applications and Earth observation data processing capabilities.
2024-09
Closed Series C at €150 million total, with investors including European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund.
2024-01
Raised first €100 million tranche of Series C funding with Marubeni Corporation as lead investor.
2011
Founded in Fino Mornasco, Italy by Luca Rossettini and Renato Panesi.
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