The Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, visited the facilities of the spin-off EMXYS today at the Science Park of the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (PCUMH). A convention was signed whereby the Government will invest 6.4 million euros from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU), through the Spanish Space Agency (AEE), to boost the development of the CubeSat Don Quijote. This project will allow Spain to lead, for the first time, a landing mission on an extraterrestrial body.
The CubeSat Don Quijote, designed and manufactured by the company EMXYS, is part of the European Space Agency's (ESA) GSTP program and the RAMSES mission. The objective is to study the asteroid Apophis, approximately 375 meters in diameter, during its approach to Earth on April 13, 2029, at a distance of about 32,000 km. The minister highlighted Spain's leadership in this "technological milestone" and the country's positioning in planetary defense and technological autonomy.
The satellite, which will be deployed from the main spacecraft, will autonomously perform a descent maneuver to the asteroid's surface to obtain direct measurements. The mission will serve to validate key capabilities for future asteroid missions, autonomous operations, and advanced space systems.
Morant emphasized that EMXYS exemplifies the success of the Spanish science and innovation ecosystem, evolving from a university spin-off to a company capable of developing critical technology for complex space missions. The company, with over 30 aerospace projects and five previous missions, holds AS-9100 and ISO-9001 aerospace quality certifications.
