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CWA # 1459, 24 August 2024
NIAS Europe Studies
Poland launches EagleEye Satellite

  Advik S Mohan

On 19 August, the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) announced the successful launch of its largest and most technologically advanced EagleEye satellite. It was the first satellite built and designed in Poland weighing over 50 kilograms which aims to provide high-resolution satellite images of the Earth from space. Grzegorz Brona, the Chief Executive Officer of Creotech said that the EagleEye project would be a significant milestone in the Polish space sector contributing to job growth and advancement.

How did Poland's space missions evolve?
Poland’s space missions began during the communist era under the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The Interkosmos space programme of the USSR involved crewed missions to space from pro-Soviet states, and Miroslaw Hermaszewski became the first Polish national to go to space in 1978. Hermaszewski remains the only Polish national to go to space so far. In 1973, Poland independently launched into orbit machines for measuring solar radiation from the Kopernik 500 spacecraft. In 1976, the Polish Academy of Sciences launched the Space Research Centre to advance space technologies and exploration from the Polish perspective. After the fall of communism, the scope for space cooperation expanded for Poland. A cooperation agreement on the peaceful usage of outer space was signed between the Government of Poland and the European Space Agency (ESA)in 1994. The Plan for European Cooperating States (PECS) was signed in 2007; improving the financing for research institutions, universities, and enterprises in Poland. The increasing partnerships with the ESA allowed Polish-made equipment like satellites to be utilised in ESA research missions. As of 2012, 73 Polish-made instruments had been launched into space.

The increasing collaboration with the ESA also propelled Polish agencies to increase their expertise. In 2012, the first Polish-made satellite “PW-Sat” was launched by students from the Warsaw University of Technology. Later, the Space Research Centre launched two nanosatellites into orbit; namely Lem and Heweliusz as a part of the Bright Star Target Explorer (BRITE) programme in collaboration with Austria and Canada. A significant step towards building Poland’s space industry was taken in 2014, when the Polish Sejm, the lower house of the Parliament passed an act establishing the Polish Space Agency (POLSA).  The Polish government intended to increase its presence in space through POLSA to serve as a common platform for both the scientific and business communities. The creation of POLSA provided fresh impetus to the Polish space sector, allowing it to launch and coordinate missions independently without external support. For instance, POLSA signed an agreement with the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) in 2016; agreeing to coordinate the development of space technologies such as in telecommunication, usage, and exchange of satellite data to improve scientific knowledge on topics like the observation of climate change, and space research. However, plans by POLSA to launch a massive 420 million USD investment programme as part of a “National Space Program” alongside private entities failed, due to funding issues.

What is the significance?
The Indigeneity and low-cost factors of the satellite make it supreme for Poland’s national capabilities and give scope to further its design in small satellites. Poland known as the supplier of space technology and components, this satellite mission could be a turning point to portray it as a space power. The Space Research Centre (SRC) and POLSA jointly built the satellite by supplying the telescope computer and algorithms controlling the satellite. Creotech (Poland’s manufacturer of satellite systems) built the satellite platform called “HyperSat” and Scanway (A US-Polish company in the field of optical payloads and space cameras) was responsible for the satellite’s telescope. The HyperSat platform supports satellites weighing up to 200 kilograms and can be customised, based on specific customer requirements. The EagleEye mission will place the satellite at a Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). This allows the satellite to reach an altitude of 300-350 kilometres, where it will be tested to see how it can be operated and can improve the quality of Earth imaging. The mission is also an example of the scientific and business sectors collaboration which can be seen from businesses like Creotech and Scanway. Grzegorz Brona, the CEO of Creotech said, “We are opening the door for domestic entities to the rapidly growing and profitable market of designing, building, integrating, and launching small satellites weighing more than 50 kg.”

What are POLSA's space ambitions?
Poland’s space sector is set to advance further in the future. On 29 August 2023, the Ministry of Development and Technology of Poland and the ESA signed two agreements; promising to aid in the further development of the Polish space sector through greater investments for enhancing the competitiveness of the space sector and producing space specialities, alongside providing internships for Polish graduates from space policy majors to help refine the skills of domestic entrepreneurs. It was also decided that a Polish astronaut would take part in a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025, with Slawosz Uznanski chosen for the purpose. Additionally, Warsaw is developing observation satellites jointly with the ESA, as a part of the Camila mission. This mission involves four high-resolution satellites intended for civilian use and expected to be launched in 2027, as well as two satellites for defence and security to be launched in 2028. Since the construction and design of the satellites will be undertaken primarily by Polish companies, it is expected to provide them with the required funding and technical expertise for conducting more missions in the future. According to Mareck Wilgucki, Chief Executive of the Four Point startup which focuses on mining industry satellite surveillance, the Polish space industry requires more involvement and funding from the private sector.

Poland which has limited space operability among the EU countries presents a success model to use technical skill and technology resources to advance space exploration. 

References
“Historic milestone for Polish space science as they successfully launch Eagleeye satellite,” Euro News, 18 August 2024
“Poland’s Space Sector Accelerates with the Launch of EagleEye Satellite,” Poland Daily 24, 03 September 2024
“Poland’s largest and most advanced satellite reaches orbit,” Notes from Poland, 19 August 2024
Ian Mundell,  “The Ecosystem: earth observation missions will lift Poland’s space tech sector,” Science Business, 05 June 2024
Brian Berger, “Poland signs space partnership deal with China, eyes increased industry cooperation,” Space News, 04 July 2016
Jaroslaw Adamowski, “ Polish Space Agency eyes $420M program to develop satellites, space R&D,” Space News, 06 March 2018
Kinga Gruszecka, “ Poland’s Space Sector is Young, But Achievement is on the Horizon,” Via Satellite
“Polish EagleEye Satellite: A Landmark Project  for the Space Sector,” Creotech

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