Polish space technology firm Eycore has successfully launched its first Earth observation satellite, Eycore-1, marking a significant milestone for both the company and Europe’s growing private space sector. The satellite lifted off aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on May 3 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, making Eycore only the second privately owned European company to operate its own synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite.
The mission represents a critical step in validating Eycore’s radar technologies in real orbital conditions. It also contributes to Poland’s broader defense ambitions, particularly the development of the POLSARIS radar satellite constellation, which is intended to provide persistent Earth observation capabilities for the country’s armed forces.
Eycore-1 is equipped with the company’s proprietary SAR system, designed to deliver high-resolution imagery regardless of weather conditions or time of day—an advantage over traditional optical satellites. According to Tomasz Kusowski, co-founder and vice president of Eycore, the company’s focus lies in developing compact, energy-efficient radar payloads that can be deployed on smaller satellites without compromising performance.
These miniaturized radar systems are expected to play a key role in enabling cost-effective satellite constellations, offering both commercial and defense users more flexible and responsive imaging solutions.
Alongside the launch, Eycore announced plans to invest approximately 50 million Polish złoty (around $14 million) to expand its production capabilities. The investment includes the construction of a new headquarters in Gdynia, complete with advanced manufacturing infrastructure such as cleanroom facilities for precision radar technologies. The project forms part of the broader Kaszubia Green Industrial District initiative, supported by Poland’s Ministry of National Defense.
The company is also actively engaged in collaborative European programs. Eycore is working with European Space Agency and Polish space firm Creotech on the CAMILA program, a €52 million initiative aimed at building a national Earth observation constellation. Under this project, Eycore is responsible for developing a radar satellite as part of a four-satellite system that also includes three optical spacecraft.
Further strengthening its position in the European space ecosystem, Eycore is partnering with Kongsberg NanoAvionics, a satellite platform provider owned by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. The collaboration combines Eycore’s SAR payloads with NanoAvionics’ satellite buses, creating a fully European solution for rapid, sovereign access to high-resolution Earth imagery.
Kusowski noted that the company is also in discussions with several global satellite system integrators interested in incorporating Eycore’s radar sensors into future constellations, signaling growing international demand for its technology.
Headquartered in Warsaw, with an additional office in Bristol, U.K., Eycore is positioning itself as a key player in next-generation radar satellite systems. The successful deployment of Eycore-1 not only validates its technological approach but also underscores Poland’s ambitions to strengthen its space and defense capabilities through domestic innovation.
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