Author: Scanway
Publication date:
Scanway, a Polish leader in space-based observation technology, has been included among the recommended subcontractors in the tender selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to carry out the Camila (Country Awareness Mission In Land Analysis)—the largest civilian satellite constellation in the history of the Polish space sector. The project leader is Creotech Instruments, which on April 10 of this year signed a contract with the ESA worth 51,925,511 EUR, of which EUR 26,330,560 will be allocated to work planned to be carried out by eight subcontractors, including Scanway. The project is scheduled for completion in December 2027. This bilateral project between the Ministry of Development and Technology and ESA is funded by Poland’s contribution to ESA for the years 2023–2025, which was increased in August 2023 by an additional 360 mln EUR.
- The Camila constellation will consist of at least three observation satellites, including one high-resolution optical satellite, one lower-resolution optical satellite, and one radar satellite; the project will also include a ground segment and the launch of the satellites
- Scanway, as a recommended subcontractor that received a positive evaluation from ESA during the bidding phase, is ready to support the project by preparing telescopes for at least two optical satellites, as well as providing data processing and constellation operations
- Creotech Instruments is the project leader, and Scanway is entering into negotiations with the company to conclude an implementation agreement setting forth the specific terms of the collaboration, including financial arrangements
- The Camila project represents a landmark milestone in the development of the Polish space sector and could strengthen Scanway’s position as a leader in the supply of advanced optical instruments
– Scanway is ready to supply key technology—in the form of payloads (telescopes)—for optical satellites destined for the largest and most advanced civilian Earth observation satellite constellation in Polish history. This is a tremendous honor for our company and for the work we have been putting into the development of the domestic space sector for the past nine years by supplying optical instruments to the most important Polish and European space missions. In 2024 alone, our equipment was installed on Poland’s largest satellite, EagleEye, and aboard the maiden flight of Europe’s newest launch vehicle, Ariane 6. ESA’s selection of the proposal—which included Scanway, recommended by Creotech Instruments, as one of eight subcontractors—represents a major opportunity for many domestic companies to grow rapidly and, above all, the chance to provide Poland with the observation satellites it so urgently needs. We are proud to have the opportunity to participate in this project – comments Jędrzej Kowalewski, Chairman of the Management Board of Scanway S.A.
The Largest Civilian Satellite Constellation in the Polish Space Sector
The goal of the Camila project is to create a Polish constellation of observation satellites that will provide optical and radar data primarily for civilian applications in public administration, science, and the private sector. The Earth observation constellation is scheduled to be launched into orbit by the end of 2027 and will consist of at least three satellites: one high-resolution optical satellite, one lower-resolution optical satellite, and one radar satellite. The Camila project provides for the possibility of further expansion with several additional options, including the delivery of a fourth satellite and the provision of in-orbit support for the constellation. ESA has signed a contract with Creotech Instruments as the project leader, which plans to assign part of the required scope of work to eight subcontractors, including Scanway.
The project will enhance the country’s space capabilities and support key sectors that rely on satellite imagery, including agriculture, energy, insurance, and logistics. Camila is also a strategic component for monitoring critical infrastructure, including the effects of climate change and national border security. Through the implementation of this project, Poland will gain access to the latest satellite technologies, which will lead to increased security, the development of a data-driven economy, and the promotion of domestic technologies in international markets.
– Companies involved in the Camila project will have an excellent opportunity to develop their expertise while contributing to the building of Poland’s strong position in the global space ecosystem. As a leader in the supply of advanced optical instruments in Poland, Scanway can be responsible for their development within the project, as well as for, among other things, supporting data processing and constellation operations. The total project budget is 51.9 million EUR. The expertise, technologies, and infrastructure we have developed in recent years enable us, together with our partners, to deliver the best satellite solutions for the country. This will make us independent of external suppliers and enhance Poland’s security, while also accelerating the development of the entire domestic space sector and other branches of our economy. “—says Mikołaj Podgórski, Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Scanway S.A.”
The Rapid Growth of the Space Sector in Poland
The increase in the number of companies involved in space technologies and investments in the development of engineering and scientific expertise are steadily strengthening Poland’s growing position in the international space arena. An important sign of the high priority placed on the development of domestic space technologies was the increase in Poland’s contribution to the ESA by an additional 360 million EUR for the years 2023–2025. This not only makes it possible for the first time to carry out large, comprehensive space projects such as Camila, but also to send a second Pole into space – Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a Polish ESA project astronaut, has been selected to participate in the Axiom 4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), which is scheduled to launch no earlier than May 2025. This means that after nearly 50 years, Poland will have another citizen, following Mirosław Hermaszewski, who will travel to space.
Starting in 2021, Poland has been launching its own satellites into orbit every year. Among the most important space missions in recent years are the launch of Scanway’s proprietary STAR VIBE satellite, KP Labs’ Intuition-1 satellite, and the EagleEye satellites developed by a consortium of Creotech Instruments, Scanway, and the Space Research Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Plans for domestic satellite constellations such as Camila and PIAST, as well as the rapid growth of private companies, mean that the number of satellites launched with the participation of domestic entities will continue to rise.
– The development of the Polish space sector requires contracts for large-scale projects. This is confirmed by numerous examples from other countries, including the American company SpaceX, which has relied on major contracts with NASA—thanks to which it has grown by leaps and bounds and has had a significant impact on the entire industry both in the United States and worldwide. The Camila project is another step—following Mikroglob—that is both large and important for the rapid development of Poland’s space capabilities, as well as for the Polish companies that will participate in building this constellation. We hope that in the coming years, Camila will be one of many contracts of this scale, based on Poland’s increased contribution to the ESA, from which funds are then returned to domestic companies in the form of contracts. In the second half of the year, Poland will decide on the amount of its contribution for 2026–2028, and I believe that the successes of recent years by representatives of the national space sector, including Scanway and Creotech Instruments, will serve as a strong argument for at least maintaining or further increasing our contribution to the ESA. Let’s remember that Camila, like any other constellation in LEO (Low Earth Orbit), will require the addition of new satellites every few years to replace the previous ones, thereby ensuring the continuity of the entire constellation’s operations. –adds Michał Zięba, Chief Technology Officer of Scanway S.A.
Scanway has been actively supporting the development of the Polish space sector for several years. The company’s optical solutions have been incorporated into the most important Polish and European space missions of 2024. The company supplied a key component—the SOP200, Poland’s largest-ever telescope weighing approximately 10 kg—for EagleEye, the largest satellite Poland has ever launched into space. The company also deployed its equipment (Scanway Camera System) on the maiden flight of Europe’s newest launch vehicle—Ariane 6—thereby confirming the flight heritage of yet another product.
The company is carrying out some of Poland’s largest contracts for space equipment, including for commercial clients such as Nara Space from South Korea and Marble Imaging from Germany. It is also a key consortium member in major space projects in Poland, including the PIAST project, which is set to enter orbit in 2025 as Poland’s first constellation of optical nanosatellites for military applications. At the turn of 2025 and 2026, Scanway will also be part of a lunar mission by the Nasdaq-listed U.S. company Intuitive Machines, which will use the Wrocław-based company’s telescope to map the Moon’s surface — for the first time in history, a commercial Polish telescope will participate in research on the Moon.
About Scanway:
Scanway S.A. is a Polish company that has been in business for 9 years. It specializes in the optical data chain, which includes data acquisition, processing, analytics, and event prediction based on that data. In the Space 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. Scanway strives to provide its customers with full access to key optical data in both segments.
As one of only a dozen or so companies worldwide, Scanway has developed a complete range of optoelectronic products for Earth observation from orbit. The company carries out key contracts for space equipment in Poland and around the world, including for commercial clients. It also operates STAR VIBE, Poland’s longest-operating optical observation satellite. The company’s solutions have been incorporated into the most important European and Polish space missions of 2024. Among other achievements, the company installed its equipment (the Scanway Camera System) on the maiden flight of Europe’s newest launch vehicle, Ariane 6, and delivered Poland’s largest-ever telescope, weighing approximately 10 kg (SOP200) to EagleEye—the largest satellite Poland has ever sent into space.
The company has completed over 40 quality control implementations in the industrial sector. As a technology partner to the sector’s largest manufacturers, it develops proprietary software solutions using AI and advanced applications for Industry 4.0.
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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