ATLAS Space Operations has activated its newest antenna in Mwulire, Rwanda, a strategic addition to the company’s global ground network.
The expansion 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.
The Rwanda ground 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 new site in Rwanda 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 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.
ATLAS currently handles 3,000+ satellite contacts per month across its network. Since July of 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.
The activation of our new antenna in Rwanda is a testament to the strength of our partnership with the Rwanda Space Agency and commitment to growing 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.”