[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/slider-comunicacio.jpg” max_height=”130px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”24px||11px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Unitats de recerca” module_class=”ieec-orgs” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700||on|||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_font_size_phone=”26px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoiY3VzdG9tX21ldGFfb3JnYW5pemFjaW9uZXMiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImVuYWJsZV9odG1sIjoib2ZmIn19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_title author=”off” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” admin_label=”T\u00edtol i data” module_class=”ieec-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Cairo|300|||||||” title_font_size=”40px” meta_font=”||on||||||” meta_font_size=”16px” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”30px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text admin_label=”Subt\u00edtols” module_class=”ieec-summary” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Source Sans Pro||on||||||” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.1em” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”22px” text_font_size_phone=”20px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title title=”off” meta=”off” module_class=”ieec-img-container” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” border_width_top=”10px” border_color_top=”#406fda” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-img-footer” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Simulation by Arrakihs of low-surface-brightness structures in the halo of a spiral galaxy similar to the Milky Way. Alex Camaz\u00f3n (IEEC), Arrakihs Consortium.<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Arrakihs<\/span><\/a>, the first mission of the <\/span>European Space Agency<\/span><\/a> (ESA) Science Programme led by Spain through the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU) and the <\/span>Spanish Space Agency<\/span><\/a> (AEE), has confirmed today the start of its development phase ahead of its planned launch in 2030.<\/span><\/p>\n Arrakihs officially becomes the second F-class (Fast) mission, F2, of the ESA Science Programme, culminating a process that began with its selection in 2022. Fast missions are a category within the ESA Science Programme designed to be developed within shorter timeframes and with more contained costs than the Agency\u2019s large-scale missions, allowing for a more agile response to new scientific challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n “With Arrakihs, we are placing Spain at the forefront of European space exploration,” said the Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant. “It is a mission that generates knowledge, strengthens our business fabric, attracts talent and projects our country’s capabilities internationally,” the Minister added.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The research team responsible for Arrakihs is led by Rafael Guzm\u00e1n, a research professor at the <\/span>Institute of Physics of Cantabria<\/span><\/a> (IFCA), a joint centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Cantabria (UC). The <\/span>Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia<\/span><\/a> (IEEC \u2014 Institut d\u2019Estudis Espacials de Catalunya), with researchers at the <\/span>Institute of Space Sciences<\/span><\/a> (ICE-CSIC), also plays a prominent role in the mission, leading the main instrument and contributing to the scientific aspect and the ground segment.<\/span><\/p>\n “It is extremely exciting to have confirmed that the mission will move forward with the IEEC\/ICE-CSIC team, with whom we have collaborated on numerous scientific cosmology projects over the years,” explains Santiago Serrano (IEEC), deputy lead of the Arrakihs consortium and principal investigator of the instrument. He adds: “In Arrakihs, we are playing a key role from a scientific, technological and leadership perspective, contributing to having reached this point and to the challenges that lie ahead until the mission becomes a reality.”<\/span><\/p>\n “This is a major success for the IEEC\/ICE-CSIC group, which plays a very important role in this mission,” agrees Pablo Fosalba, principal investigator of the group at ICE-CSIC and member of the IEEC. “Arrakihs will provide key information to understand how galaxies like the Milky Way form, as well as the nature of dark matter, one of the greatest mysteries of modern cosmology and fundamental physics,” the expert explained.<\/span><\/p>\n “Arrakihs is an innovative and unique galactic archaeology mission. By discovering galactic haloes that are difficult to observe, it will reveal new details about how galaxies form and whether the Milky Way is a unique case. Its rapid development highlights the flexibility and scope of the ESA Science Programme,” says Professor Carole Mundell, ESA Director of Science.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”section-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” hover_enabled=”0″ header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The mission was conceived to answer one of the great open questions of modern astrophysics: how galaxies form and evolve within dark matter haloes. To do this, it will observe, with unprecedented sensitivity, the diffuse, low surface brightness stellar haloes that surround galaxies like the Milky Way.<\/span><\/p>\n Arrakihs (an acronym for \u201cAnalysis of Resolved Remnants of Accreted galaxies as a Key Instrument for Halo Surveys\u201d) will open a new window onto the so-called low surface brightness Universe, allowing the study of structures that until now remained practically hidden, and providing new clues about dark matter, galactic mergers and the evolution of galaxies.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n For example, by mapping stellar streams (the remnants of small galaxies that were torn apart by gravity), Arrakihs will allow us to reconstruct the history of past galactic mergers and provide an estimate of the number of solitary stars that were stripped from their galaxies during these mergers.<\/span><\/p>\n In total, Arrakihs plans to investigate at least 80 galaxies with a mass similar to that of the Milky Way. This is a large enough number to obtain statistics on how a typical galaxy forms, which will allow us to understand just how unique our own is.<\/span><\/p>\n For the mission, the Spanish company <\/span>Satlantis<\/span><\/a> has designed and developed a visible and infrared binocular camera that will make it possible to obtain images of galaxies similar to the Milky Way, reaching a surface brightness 5\u2013100 times deeper than the best images taken from ground-based observatories.<\/span><\/p>\n The depth, resolution and wide field of the images provided by Arrakihs will represent an astronomical milestone and provide key information for our understanding of dark matter in the universe.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Modelo-de-pruebas-del-instrumento-binocular-ARRAKIHS-desarrollado-por-el-equipo-instrumental-del-AMC-con-trabajadores-de-Satlantis-prime-del-instrumento.-Credit_-Satlantis-and-AMC.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-img-footer” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Test model of the Arrakihs binocular instrument developed by the AMC instrumentation team, featuring personnel from Satlantis. <\/span>Satlantis and Arrakihs Consortium.<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”section-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” hover_enabled=”0″ header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”|700|||on||||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Since its selection by ESA in 2022, Arrakihs has come through all the necessary stages to become a fully consolidated mission within the European Science Programme. During this period, the international consortium has completed the preliminary design of the satellite and its <\/span>instruments<\/span><\/a>, developed new cosmological simulations and galactic models, validated key technologies, and strengthened the mission’s scientific potential through increasingly deep observations of the low surface brightness universe.<\/span><\/p>\n The decision to adopt the mission, through which ESA authorises the transition from the design phase to the development and construction phase, has been approved by the member states meeting in the Science Programme Committee (SPC). This meeting was held between yesterday and today at the Instituto de Astrof\u00edsica de Canarias (Tenerife) under the chairship of Cecilia Hern\u00e1ndez, Director of Programmes and Industry at the AEE.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n With its official adoption as an F2 mission, Arrakihs leaves the definition phase behind to enter the development and construction stage. The launch, planned for 2030, will mark the beginning of a mission set to transform our knowledge of galaxy formation and the nature of dark matter, whilst consolidating Spain’s scientific, technological and industrial leadership in the European space sector.<\/span><\/p>\n An international consortium is participating in the development of Arrakihs, featuring research centres from Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, Austria and the United States. The participating Spanish institutions are: CEFCA, IFCA, CSIC, UC, ICE-CSIC, IEEC, IFAE, INTA, UCM, IDR \/ UPM, IAA, Satlantis, ISDEFE, LIDAX and PIC \/ CIEMAT.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ieec.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Foto-de-familia-del-Consorcio-de-ARRAKIHS-durante-su-V-Congreso-en-el-Palacio-de-la-Magdalena_Credits_AMC_21_r.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-img-footer” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Group photo of the Arrakihs Consortium during its 5th Congress at the Palacio de la Magdalena (Santander). <\/span>Arrakihs Consortium<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#406fda” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Enlla\u00e7os” module_class=”ieec-sub-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Cairo|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#406fda” text_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Links<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”ieec-sub-text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.1em” link_font=”|700|||on|||#1a1140|” link_text_color=”#1a1140″ link_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#406fda” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contactes” module_class=”ieec-sub-title” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Cairo|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#406fda” text_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Contacts<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||20px|false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”#406fda” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.1em” link_font=”|700|||on|||#1a1140|” link_text_color=”#1a1140″ link_line_height=”1.4em” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#1a1140″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Castelldefels, Barcelona [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||20px|false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”#406fda” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1em” link_font=”|700|||on||||” link_text_color=”#1a1140″ header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#1a1140″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_id=”ieec-about” module_class=”about-ieec” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”rgba(64,111,218,0.15)” global_module=”17324″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”20px|50px|20px|50px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Sobre l’IEEC” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”25px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”23px” header_2_font_size_phone=”23px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” link_font=”|700|||on||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC \u2014 Institut d\u2019Estudis Espacials de Catalunya) promotes and coordinates space research and technology development in Catalonia for the benefit of society. IEEC fosters collaborations both locally and worldwide and is an efficient agent of knowledge, innovation and technology transfer. As a result of more than 25 years of high-quality research, done in collaboration with major international organisations, IEEC ranks among the best international research centres, focusing on areas such as: astrophysics, cosmology, planetary science, and Earth Observation. IEEC\u2019s engineering division develops instrumentation for ground- and space-based projects, and has extensive experience in working with private or public organisations from the aerospace and other innovation sectors.<\/p>\n The IEEC is a non-profit public sector foundation that was established in February 1996. It has a Board of Trustees composed of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya \u00b7 BarcelonaTech (UPC), and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). The IEEC is also a CERCA centre.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Following its selection in 2022, the mission successfully culminated its preliminary design phase and has been adopted by the European Space Agency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":46256,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"2880","footnotes":""},"categories":[98,110,74,110,74,98],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science","category-highlighted-news-big","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nRevealing the faintest Universe<\/h2>\n
From concept to mission<\/h2>\n
\n
IEEC Communication Office<\/h4>\n
E-mail: comunicacio@ieec.cat<\/a><\/p>\nLead Researcher at the IEEC<\/h4>\n
Santiago Serrano<\/h4>\n
Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC)
E-mail: serrano@ieec.cat,<\/a> serrano@ice.csic.es<\/a><\/p>\nPablo Fosalba<\/h4>\n
Institute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC)
E-mail: fosalba@ieec.cat,<\/a> fosalba@ice.csic.es<\/a><\/p>\nAbout the IEEC<\/h2>\n