Traverse City, MI – July 15, 2025 – ATLAS Space Operations, a leading provider of Ground Station as a Service, today announced that Rwanda has activated its newest antenna in Mwulire, in the Eastern province of Rwanda. This Ground Station, which is also part of ATLAS’ global ground network significantly enhances COSMIC-2’s ability to collect and provide critical data to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for global weather and space weather monitoring.
Rwanda’s station receives data from six COSMIC-2 satellites, which continuously measure the Earth’s atmosphere and ionosphere using radio occultation. The data collected by these spacecraft are crucial for accurate weather and space weather forecasting. Due to the dynamic nature of the atmosphere and ionosphere, rapid delivery of data to NOAA is paramount. ATLAS maintains a stringent requirement to deliver this data from its ground stations to NOAA in under 60 seconds.
This strategic expansion adds significant robustness to the ATLAS ground network, complementing existing ground stations in Ghana and Tahiti, also supporting the COSMIC-2 mission. Rwanda’s unique geographic location offers an ideal number of contacts with the COSMIC-2 constellation, making it an exceptionally strategic asset for data reception. The addition of this site to our network was requested by NOAA when it became available and ATLAS was able to offer this location through its strong partnership with the Rwanda Space Agency.
“The activation of Rwanda’s new antenna is a testament to our partners’ commitment to continue investing in satellite communications, filling the gaps in the space ground infrastructure, allowing us to grow our network to best serve our customers,” said Corey Geer, Chief Executive Officer at ATLAS Space Operations. “This strategic addition significantly enhances our ability to deliver critical COSMIC-2 data, ensuring that NOAA receives the vital information they need for accurate and timely atmospheric and ionospheric monitoring.”
ATLAS currently handles 3,000+ satellite contacts per month across its network. Since July 2019, as of May 31, 2025, ATLAS has successfully handled 156,653 contacts from NOAA satellites, maintaining a ground station availability of 99.36%. Furthermore, data has been delivered on average in under 40 seconds across all contacts, demonstrating ATLAS’s commitment to efficiency and reliability.
About ATLAS Space Operations, Inc.
ATLAS Space Operations is the leading provider of Ground Software as a Service™ in the space communications industry. ATLAS’ revolutionary Freedom® software has been recognized by industry-leading publications and organizations such as Via Satellite and CIO Review. Additionally, Aerospace & Defense Review named ATLAS the Space Tech Company of the Year (2024) and acknowledged ATLAS as one of the Top Satellite Solutions Providers (2024, 2023). Lastly, ATLAS was highlighted in the CIO Review: Telecom Edition as Company of the Year (2023), as well as one of the 10 Most Promising Technologies. ATLAS combines the Freedom Software Platform and its federated global antenna network to achieve its mission of securing space access anytime, anywhere. To learn more, visit atlasspace.com.
About Rwanda Space Agency
Rwanda Space Agency (RSA) was established in 2020 with the mission to develop Rwanda’s space sector towards socio-economic development, using space-based technologies and applications. RSA’s mandate is to coordinate all space activities in the country, to develop a globally competitive space ecosystem, as well as fostering entrepreneurial and industrial development. RSA is keen to partner with industry leaders like Atlas, research and innovation institutions and create a strong cooperation at a regional and international level. To learn more, visit: https://space.gov.rw/.
Media Contact:
Dan Carey
Brand Director, ATLAS Space Operations
dcarey@atlasspace.com
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