On January 30, 2024, Scanway entered into a cooperation agreement with Nara Space Technology, one of the leading Korean entities in the production of satellites, remote sensing and artificial intelligence. The goal of the cooperation is the development of a microsatellite system for Earth observation, the development of optical instruments, and the development of observational payloads for the NarSha project – a constellation of microsatellites for monitoring methane. The launch of the first demonstration satellite is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. Following the success of the demonstration satellite, at least another 6-12 microsatellites are planned to be launched. The NarSha project has guaranteed financing, including from the Korea Development Bank. Scanway was chosen to carry out the NarSha project after positive verification by the entire consortium: Nara Space Technology (leader), Climate Technology Center of Seoul National University, and Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.
“We are continuing intensive development in the field of products for the space sector and have established another important partnership. Together with the consortium led by the Korean Nara Space Technology, we plan to develop a demonstration microsatellite named K3M (Korea Methane Monitoring Microsatelite) as part of the NarSha project. This is the first Korean project to monitor methane using a satellite equipped with advanced optical instruments. The microsatellite is expected to achieve high spatial and temporal resolution imaging for global and point sources of methane. This is to contribute to the improvement of current observational capabilities of greenhouse gas emitters from space in order to resolve the climate crisis and reduce methane emissions. For Scanway, this is another step towards the wide commercialization of our product portfolio and entry into a new, significant market outside Europe. After a successful mission of the demonstration microsatellite, we will be the natural partner for delivering the payload to at least the next 6-12 satellites”, comments Jędrzej Kowalewski, President of the Management Board of Scanway S.A.
The NarSha project, under which the K3M demonstration microsatellite will be created, assumes the construction of a constellation of at least several satellites for the global infrastructure of monitoring point sources of methane in near-real time and with local-level spatial resolution. The consortium of the project includes: Nara Space Technology (leader), Seoul National University, and Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute. The project already has secured financing, and the launch of the demonstration satellite is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.
The K3M microsatellite will be equipped with an optical instrument for detecting methane streaks in the visible band (VIS), near-infrared (NIR), and short-wave infrared (SWIR). The spectral resolution of the imaging instrument is expected to be even below 1 nanometer, and the minimum spatial resolution at an altitude of 500 km is 30 meters. The mass of the satellite will be at least 32 kg, and its size will be 16U, i.e. it will be made up of 16 cubes with dimensions 10 cm x 10 cm x 11.35 cm.
“The agreement with Nara Space Technology is an important reference for us in the many business talks currently taking place on many fronts aimed at expanding and commercializing our product portfolio. At the end of 2023, we reported an agreement with the German Marble Imaging, and we start the new year with a successful exit from the European market in another commercial project. It is worth noting that it already has secured financing from investors, including the Korea Development Bank. It is now our job to prove that choosing Scanway for this project was the right decision,” says Mikołaj Podgórski, COO and co-founder of Scanway S.A.
Nara Space Technology is an innovative company operating in the space technology industry. It specializes in the development and production of advanced satellite systems and technologies related to space exploration. The key areas of the company’s activity include the design and construction of small satellites, the development of communication systems for space missions, and the creation of solutions in the field of remote sensing and Earth observation. The company’s activities aim not only at the development of the space sector but also at contributing to progress in various areas of life, thanks to the use of space technologies for research, communication, and observation purposes.
Scanway is developing and commercializing two business lines: products for the space sector (optical instruments for Earth observation and satellite self-diagnosis) and for industry (vision systems). Thanks to the STAR VIBE mission and the launch of a satellite equipped with a vision system and an optical telescope developed and manufactured in the company’s laboratories at the beginning of 2023, Scanway obtained so-called flight heritage – it confirmed the reliability and functionality of its solutions in space conditions. The Polish satellite regularly makes new images of the Earth, and the company receives the best images obtained so far by Polish research instruments from space.
As part of solutions for industry, Scanway specializes in creating proprietary vision systems for quality control of finished products, raw materials, and the production process. The company’s product offering contributes to the introduction of Industry 4.0 philosophy through automation and optimization of the quality control process in the packaging and printing, automotive, food, and pharmaceutical sectors, among others. The hyperspectral technology used by Scanway allows for continuous quality control of 100% of products on lines with very high throughput, which helps to reduce production costs for customers.
