Creotech Instruments, the largest Polish space company listed on the Warsaw Stock exchange, has signed an agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) to carry out the “Space Weather Nanosatellites System Enhancement” project.
The main goal of the mission is to study space weather, namely the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth’s atmosphere, using data collected in Earth’s orbit. Creotech is responsible for Phase 0-A, which involves the initial planning of the mission, which is expected to be implemented by 2028. The total cost of its construction, launch, and operation is estimated at several tens of millions of EUR, while the contract value for Phase 0-A amounts to 175 thousand EUR. The project’s scientific partners are the Space Research Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Wrocław University of Technology.
– We are pleased to be involved in this strategic project related to space weather research. This is another project, right after the Plasma Observatory, that confirms our significant position in the international space sector, including the field of space situational awareness. This confirms the recognition from the European Space Agency for our competencies in the development of advanced small satellite systems – says Dr. Grzegorz Brona, President of the Management Board of Creotech Instruments SA.
The main goal of the Space Weather mission is to provide data from onboard satellite instruments almost in real-time. This data will include information on the condition of the magnetosphere and thermosphere, which are critical for predicting and monitoring weather phenomena in space and their impact on critical infrastructure located in orbit.
– Thanks to these measurements, it will be possible to better understand and forecast solar activity and its impact on the environment around the Earth. Data will support actions related to the protection of satellite infrastructure and technologies in orbit, ensuring the safety of communication, navigation, and other operations dependent on stable space conditions. The mission, therefore, plays a crucial role in the technological and operational safety of many sectors, including aviation and energy systems on Earth, which are sensitive to disruptions caused by changes in the magnetosphere and thermosphere – says Piotr Dziuban, CTO of the Space Division at Creotech Instruments SA.
Creotech, as the project leader, will design the satellite on the HyperSat platform, where four scientific instruments will be placed: three developed by the Space Research Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences and one by the Wrocław University of Technology’s Space Research Center. Phase 0-A involves preliminary mission planning, which is expected to measure the parameters of space weather, particularly the impact of solar activity on conditions in Earth’s orbit. Measurements will be possible thanks to the adaptation of the versatile HyperSat system to carry a comprehensive payload for space weather research. Works under Phase 0-A are expected to commence in the fourth quarter of this year and last 9 months. The contract value for the execution of this part of the project is 175 thousand EUR.
The HyperSat system already positions Creotech in the select group of entities capable of offering advanced micro-satellites and entire satellite constellations, tailored precisely to the individual needs of the recipient. It is worth noting that most of the key elements of this technology were demonstrated and tested during this year’s EagleEye test mission.
The Space Weather project is a unique ESA mission in the form of “Mission as a Service” (MaaS). In the future, further discussions with ESA to negotiate a contract for the implementation of the satellite and possible constellation are not out of the question, based on the project carried out in Phase 0-A of the mission.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/creotech-podpisal-umowe-z-esa-w-sprawie-misji-badajacej-pogode-kosmiczna-96459
