History

Ingeniería y Servicios Aeroespaciales, S. A. (INSA) is a Spanish company created by an Agreement of the Council of Ministers in 1992, 100% owned by INTA.

At the time it was set up, INSA took over the work previously carried out by INTA's Stations Division.

Since then, apart from consolidating the ground station exploitation activities, the company has developed sound expertise in engineering.

The most relevant dates in INSA’s history are:

• 1992: Establishment of INSA, inheriting staff and activities previously carried out by INTA-Estaciones, devoted to the maintenance and operations of the space centres in Robledo de Chavela (NASA), Villafranca (ESA) and Maspalomas (INTA).
• 1994: Start of Engineering Directorate’s activities.
• 2002: INSA participates with 30% in HISDESAT Strategic Services S.A., a company devoted to provide governmental satellite communication services to the Ministry of Defence through its own satellite infrastructure.
• 2003: Renewal of the USA-Spain agreement that regulates the activity of NASA’s MDSCC (Robledo), and approval of the extension of INSA’s activities in Villafranca (ESA). This meant the consolidation of the medium-term horizon for INSA’s activities in the field of ground stations exploitation.
• 2004: Villafranca turns into ESAC, paving the way for its recognisance as a first level establishment of ESA.
• 2005: INSA gave support to ESA for the re-opening of the Cebreros Deep Space Ground Station, containing a 35m antenna to increase the support capabilities for ESA’s Deep Space Missions.
• 2007: The Spanish EMACON (Joint Chiefs of Staff) awards INSA and XSAT with a contract for Satellite Communications on-the-move (Satcom on-the-move).
• 2008: Establishment of INSA in Chile  
• 2008: First stage of the implementation of the Spanish Embassy world network as a result of the MoD – Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreement.
• 2009: INSA is selected for the TTC and reception ground segment for the INGENIO and PAZ satellites.
• 2010: INSA is selected by the Spanish Ministry of Justice for the EJIS (Judicial Scheme for Security and Interoperability) project, which is included in the Strategic Plan for the Modernization of the Justice System.
• 2010: Creation of the Autonomous Flight Systems Exploitation Centre (CESVA).