The moment of launch was broadcast live – you can watch the whole thing below.
Live broadcast host:
Radek Grabarek
Founder of the YouTube channel „We Need More Space”, co-host of the monthly live video podcast „Space XYZ”, where from 2021 he comments on the most interesting space events of a given month. Science popularizer, journalist, speaker. Organizer of events throughout Poland popularizing knowledge about space exploration among children and adults.
Hubert Kijek
Journalist and science popularizer. Since 2015, he has been associated with the TVN Group, part of the Warner Bros. Discovery group. Editor of the TV program „Kijek w Kosmos” on TVN24 BIS, in which he talks about space travel, technological innovations and scientific discoveries. He also describes world events and international politics.
Media partners:
Patronage:
Technology partner
Pride for the Polish space industry
New era
Poland’s largest and most advanced satellite – EagleEye – on August 16 2024 was happily launched into Earth orbit via Elon Musk’s Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX.
The separation was successful.
The key mission milestone of establishing communication with the satellite was also successful!
In the near future, the Creotech Instruments team will focus on testing and calibrating the satellite’s components in real space conditions. This will be an important step to fully launch all functions of the satellite and prepare it for operational tasks.
The mission operator is Exolaunch GmbH, an operating partner of SpaceX.
Mission goal
A distinguishing feature of the mission is the ability to operate in a very low orbit (VLEO – Very Low Earth Orbit). The satellite, descending to an altitude of approximately 350 km, will provide better quality imaging of the Earth.
The EagleEye satellite was built by Creotech Instruments on the universal HyperSat satellite platform, which is already a key element of a number of civil and defense projects at national and European level.The modular nature of the platform can be used in a variety of missions, including to the Moon.
55 cm x 150 cm x 90 cm
Satellite dimensions (with solar panels unfolded)
ok. 55 kg
Weight
The project was implemented by an industrial and scientific consortium
- Creotech Instruments S.A. (project leader) - is responsible for carrying out the entire mission, i.e. preparation of the HyperSat satellite platform and its components, satellite integration, as well as launch into Earth orbit in cooperation with ExoLaunch, the SpaceX integration operator.
- Firma Scanway S.A. - responsible for preparing and delivering the optical telescope for the satellite
- Centrum Badań Kosmicznych Polskiej Akademii Nauk (research partner) - was responsible for developing the instrument's computer.
Other Polish technology companies also participated in the EagleEye project, including: WiRan, Symkom, N7 Space, ILOT Institute of Aviation, National Center for Nuclear Research, RADMOR, Spacive, and WAMTECHNIK.
Consortium
The National Center for Research and Development was an institution co-financing the development of the EagleEye microsatellite system. The project was implemented under the Smart Growth Operational Program 2014-2020 from the European Regional Development Fund.
Total implementation cost: PLN 44,889,712.50
Funding: PLN 27,253,450.63
Project duration: April 2020 – December 2023
The EagleEye project is a breakthrough for the Polish space industry!
Technologies of tomorrow
EagleEye has a chance to introduce Poland to the elite group of countries with the ability to create such advanced space systems for national needs, the European Space Agency and customers from around the world. So far, only eight entities in Europe have proven their ability to build and test a satellite weighing at least 50 kg in space.
“Designing and building a satellite of this size in Poland required unique skills and experience. We are managing a mission that is of great importance for the entire domestic space sector. We open the door for domestic entities to the rapidly growing and profitable market of designing, building, integrating and launching small satellites into Earth orbit. It is a great honor and responsibility at the same time,” summed up Marcin Mazur, EagleEye Project Manager.
Key partners
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