Author: Scanway
Publication date:
Scanway, a Polish technology company in the New Space sector, has signed a contract with South Korea’s Nara Space Technology under which it will supply another optical instrument for Earth observation in the form of two telescopes designed to detect methane. The new contract, worth 0.7 mln EUR, expands the existing cooperation with the South Korean partner, which began with an agreement earlier this year and a first contract on May 13 of this year worth 1.7 mln EUR.
- Scanway is part of a Korean consortium carrying out the NarSha project—Korea’s first microsatellite constellation for methane monitoring, funded in part by the Korea Development Bank
- NarSha is being developed with the goal of building a constellation of at least 6–12 microsatellites, and the decision to once again select Scanway as the supplier of an advanced instrument confirms the Company’s expertise in implementing constellation projects
- Participation in constellation projects is a strategic focus for Scanway’s development; in 2024 alone, the company signed constellation contracts with a total value of 5.6 million EUR
- The value of the agreement signed today is 0.7 million EUR; based on the approved schedule, the Company expects to receive approximately 0.4 million EUR in 2025 and approximately 0.3 million EUR in 2026
- Cooperation with Nara Space Technology may be expanded in the future through additional orders for the target constellation, beyond the two instruments ordered so far
- Delivery of the telescopes to the partner is scheduled for 2026, and the launch of the first satellites is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026
– Scanway will supply another Earth observation instrument as part of South Korea’s first microsatellite constellation for methane monitoring, which is being developed under the leadership of Nara Space Technology. Two weeks ago, we successfully completed the design phase under the contract signed in May of this year. The expansion of our cooperation and this new order serve as positive confirmation not only of our high level of expertise but also of our ability to supply a larger number of telescopes to the constellation being built by our partner. Today, we are involved in the first two satellites, and the project ultimately aims to build 6–12 satellites. We possess the knowledge, skills, and infrastructure necessary for full engagement, which is why we will strive to maximize Scanway’s participation in the Korean satellite constellation. Constellation projects are one of the strategic directions of our development; we are currently carrying them out with Nara Space Technology and Marble Imaging, and the total value of such contracts signed by Scanway in 2024 already amounts to 5.6 million EUR – comments Jędrzej Kowalewski, President of the Management Board of Scanway S.A.
The NarSha project involves the construction of a constellation of microsatellites for a global infrastructure to monitor point sources of methane in near real time and with local-level spatial resolution. This is the first Korean project to monitor methane using satellite imagery. The NarSha project is being carried out by a consortium consisting of Nara Space Technology (lead), Scanway (observation instrument supplier), the Climate Technology Center of Seoul National University, and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.
The microsatellites in the NarSha project will be equipped with an optical instrument capable of detecting methane plumes in the visible (VIS), near-infrared (NIR), and short-wave infrared (SWIR) bands. The spectral resolution of the imaging instrument is expected to be less than 1 nanometer, and the minimum ground sample distance (GSD) at an altitude of 500 km is approximately 50 meters. The mass of a single satellite will be up to 32 kg, and its size will be 16U, meaning it will consist of 16 cubes measuring 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm.
– The optical instrument, consisting of two telescopes, that we will deliver to our South Korean partner will be based on solutions currently being developed under the first contract signed in May of this year, including the R&D work and the engineering and flight models that are part of it. Today’s extension of the contract to include another instrument pertains exclusively to the flight model, which we will deliver to our partner in 2026. Building the second instrument will mean that we have a reproducible system that we can efficiently deliver to subsequent satellites. This makes it possible to build a repeatable order portfolio, and we’re talking here exclusively about a single customer. At the same time, we’re developing a constellation project with Marble Imaging and conducting a series of business discussions with other potential customers seeking optical solutions for various applications “—says Mikołaj Podgórski, COO and co-founder of Scanway S.A.”
– We are seeing rapid growth in the space sector in Asia. In May of this year, the President of South Korea announced an investment plan totaling 100 trillion won (approx. $73 billion) to develop the space industry by 2045, with the goal of, among other things, landing on Mars. In August and October of this year, South Korea signed significant agreements with SpaceX and NASA, thereby strengthening cooperation in the field of space exploration and securing support for launching South Korean satellites. The additional capital and established partnerships will increase the number of space initiatives and the demand for services related to, among other things, Earth observation—which is our specialty. Our participation in South Korea’s first constellation of microsatellites for methane monitoring positions us favorably in this promising market and serves as a valuable reference for us. –adds Mikołaj Podgórski.
Nara Space Technology is a South Korean company specializing in satellite infrastructure and Earth observation data analysis. It was founded in 2015 and has focused on innovation in the New Space sector from the very beginning. The company designs and manufactures advanced satellites and develops data analysis technologies to address global challenges such as climate change, food security, and natural resource management. Through platforms such as EarthPaper, Nara Space provides broad access to satellite data, supporting both strategic decision-making and users’ day-to-day needs. The company also conducts advanced research on solutions for monitoring methane emissions. In 2024, Nara Space Technology successfully completed another round of funding (Series B) and raised $14.5 million for further development, including the construction of an observation satellite constellation as part of the NarSha project.
Scanway S.A. has been actively supporting the development of the space economy for several years. The company’s optical solutions have been incorporated into the most important European and Polish space missions of 2024. The company is executing some of Poland’s largest contracts for space equipment (including for commercial clients) and is a key consortium member in major national space projects (including EagleEye and PIAST). In July of this year, the company deployed its equipment (the Scanway Camera System) on the maiden flight of Europe’s largest launch vehicle—Ariane 6.
About Scanway:
Scanway S.A. is a Polish company that has been in business for 8 years. It is one of only a dozen or so companies worldwide to have developed a complete line of optoelectronic products for Earth observation from orbit. The company carries out key contracts—among the largest in Poland—for space equipment, including for commercial clients. It also operates STAR VIBE, Poland’s longest-operating optical observation satellite.
Scanway S.A. specializes in the optical processing chain, which includes: acquisition, processing, and analysis of image data, as well as event prediction based on that data. In the Space business segment, the company provides both hardware solutions (optical instruments, such as telescopes and cameras) and imaging analytics. In the Industry segment, it offers solutions (products) based on image data processing, including complete quality control systems. The Company’s expertise and experience in both fields are complementary and create synergies. The company strives to provide its customers with full access to key optical data, which today is driving the development of the global space industry to the greatest extent.
Scanway’s optical solutions were featured in the most important European and Polish space missions of 2024. It was the only Polish company to include its equipment (the Scanway Camera System) on the maiden flight of Europe’s largest launch vehicle—Ariane 6. The company also supplied a key component—Poland’s largest-ever telescope, weighing approximately 10 kg (SOP200)—for EagleEye, the largest satellite Poland has ever launched into space.
The company has completed over 40 quality control implementations in the industrial sector. As a technology partner for the sector’s largest manufacturers, it develops proprietary software solutions using AI and advanced applications for Industry 4.0.
In October 2023, the Company made its debut on the NewConnect market. It has fully achieved the goals announced in its initial public offering and is currently preparing to move to the Main Market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange. For more information:
https://scanway.pl/ and https://scanway.space/
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