Testing
IFAE hosts testing of Greek CubeSat mission hardware
April 16, 2026
Observational Cosmology GroupIFAE’s TVAC chamber is being used to test the Helios CubeSat, part of Greece’s Hellenic Space Dawn mission to validate Earth observation, inter-satellite links and secure optical communications technologies in orbit.
This week, and over the next two weeks, Open Cosmos is carrying out tests of the Helios flight CubeSat for the Hellenic Space Dawn mission at the Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE). The tests are being conducted in the TVAC (Thermal Vacuum) chamber at IFAE, a facility used to simulate the conditions of space.
The Helios CubeSat is part of Hellenic Space Dawn, a mission of two 8U CubeSats (Helios and Selene), focused on in-orbit validation of technologies such as Earth observation, inter-satellite links and secure optical communications.
Open Cosmos is a European space company specialising in the design, integration and operation of small satellites and end-to-end space missions.
Consolidation grant
Carles Sánchez obtains a Consolidación Investigadora grant
February 4, 2026
Carles Sánchez, member of the Observational Cosmology Group at the Institut de Física d’Altes Energies, has obtained a Consolidación Investigadora grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science through the UAB (Departament de Física, Unitat d’Altes Energies).
New ICREA position
Andreu Font-Ribera appointed ICREA Professor at IFAE
January 14, 2026
Andreu Font-Ribera has been appointed ICREA Research Professor at the Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE), reinforcing the institute’s leadership. With this appointment, IFAE now hosts eight ICREA professors.