Polish Satellites Are Working Properly in Orbit
•January 29, 2026
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Why It Matters
Poland now possesses sovereign Earth‑observation and defence capabilities, reducing reliance on foreign assets and strengthening national security. The programme also showcases a replicable model of public‑private collaboration for emerging space economies.
Key Takeaways
- •PIAST satellites confirmed fully operational in orbit.
- •HyperSat platform passed commissioning for S1 and S2.
- •Launch via SpaceX Transporter‑15 on 28 Nov 2025.
- •Project unites Polish academia, defense, and private firms.
- •Enables sovereign Earth‑observation and defense communications.
Pulse Analysis
The PIAST constellation marks a milestone for Poland’s nascent space sector. After a November 2025 launch aboard SpaceX’s Transporter‑15 rideshare, the three satellites—PIAST‑S1, S2 and the earlier PIAST‑M—underwent a rigorous commissioning phase. Creotech Instruments verified that all HyperSat subsystems, from payload to telemetry, functioned within design parameters, and the satellites were catalogued in the U.S. NORAD database. Early imagery demonstrates the platform’s high‑resolution Earth‑observation capability, while the newly established WAT Satellite Mission Control Center provides end‑to‑end operational autonomy.
Strategically, the operational status of PIAST strengthens Poland’s defence posture. By securing independent access to real‑time reconnaissance and communications, the armed forces gain a resilient layer of situational awareness that complements NATO assets. The programme’s emphasis on national security applications—such as terrain mapping, disaster monitoring and tactical communications—underscores a broader shift toward self‑reliance in critical technologies, a trend echoed across Central and Eastern Europe as regional powers seek to mitigate geopolitical vulnerabilities.
Beyond defence, the PIAST project illustrates the economic potential of coordinated public‑private partnerships in space. Funding from the National Centre for Research and Development’s SZAFIR programme catalysed collaboration between academia, state research institutes and firms like Creotech, Scanway and PCO S.A. This ecosystem not only accelerates technology transfer but also positions Poland as a future supplier of satellite components and services. As the constellation matures, commercial spin‑offs—ranging from data analytics to small‑sat launch services—could emerge, reinforcing the country’s ambition to become a sovereign and competitive player in the global space market.
Polish satellites are working properly in orbit
Mateusz Mitektow · 29 January 2026, 16:10
Creotech Instruments has confirmed the full orbital readiness of the HyperSat platform on all satellites in the PIAST (Polish ImAging SaTellites) constellation. The devices were launched into orbit in November 2025.
Photo. Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna w Warszawie
Information on this matter was published on 20 February this year. The company announced that the commissioning phase of the PIAST‑S1 and PIAST‑S2 satellite platforms, two of the three satellites in the Polish PIAST constellation, had been successfully completed. During commissioning, the full functionality of all key HyperSat platform systems was confirmed.
“This achievement is the result of several weeks of intensive work by Creotech Instruments’ operations team and years of commitment from the project teams. The PIAST project is an example of effective cooperation between Polish industry and science.” – the company emphasized.
See also
On 13 January this year, Creotech announced the orbital readiness of the PIAST‑M platform. Meanwhile, the Military University of Technology (project leader) reported that the satellites had already received identifiers in the U.S. NORAD ID system, being catalogued as additional artificial objects in space, each assigned a number and name. Some of the recently transmitted images from these satellites were also presented.
Polish ImAging SaTellites (PIAST) is a research and development programme carried out by the Military University of Technology (WAT) in consortium with Creotech Instruments, the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences (CBK PAN), the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation, and the companies Scanway and PCO S.A. The project is co‑financed by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) under the SZAFIR programme initiated by the Ministry of National Defence.
The project aims to leverage the potential of cooperation between scientific institutions and private enterprises in developing solutions crucial for national security and defence. As part of the PIAST project, the WAT Satellite Mission Control Center was also established, enabling full autonomy in satellite operations.
See also
“The PIAST project not only strengthens Poland’s Earth‑observation capabilities but also supports the development of science, industry, and innovative technologies in Poland. It is another step toward building our country’s independent and sovereign satellite capabilities,” commented Dr Grzegorz Brona, President of the Management Board of Creotech Instruments.
The PIAST project satellites were launched into orbit on 28 November 2025 as part of SpaceX’s Transporter‑15 mission. The same mission also carried a nanosatellite developed by the Wrocław‑based company SatRev, as well as the first military radar satellite of the Polish Armed Forces, developed under the MikroSAR programme by the Polish‑Finnish company ICEYE.
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