28 November, 19.44 – this date just entered the past of the Polish Army. Tonight the first Polish military satellite was elevated into space. “Poland has become the first country in Central and east Europe with a comprehensive strategy of military satellite reconnaissance!” commented Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The first Polish military satellite was elevated to space aboard the Falcon 9 rocket owned by SpaceX. The launch took place at 19.44 p.m. from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. It is the first of 3 satellites that Poland acquired under the MicroSAR programme. Wart 860 million PLN contract The Agency of Armed Forces concluded with Polish-Finnish company Iceye in May.
The rocket's flight into orbit lasted a fewer minutes, after which the process of releasing the cargo began. After correcting the position of the satellite, investigating all devices, which may take days to respective months, the first Polish military satellite will scope operational readiness. The Geospatial designation and Satellite Services Agency, which will be liable for its operation, estimates that this will happen in the first 4th of next year.
Precise images regardless of conditions
And what tasks will the military usage the satellite for? First of all, for exploratory action. It is equipped with radar with synthetic aperture (SAR), which monitors the Earth's surface, sending radar waves towards it. Based on their reflection, it is possible to get images with a resolution of up to 25 cm regardless of the time of day and prevailing weather conditions.
The strategy supported the Ukrainian army as well as Polish services during the flood in 2024. The Deputy Prime Minister assured that the data obtained from the satellite could be utilized not only by the military, but besides by representatives of the agricultural sector, forest management or crisis management in the fight against natural disasters.
Sand programme
But that's not all. There were a full of 140 cargoes on board the Falcon 9 rocket, including cubesates, microsatellites, transfer vehicles, or nanostatites. 3 of the second were developed by Polish scientists as part of the “Shafir” investigation and improvement programme. The programme financed by the National Centre for investigation and improvement since 2021 has been implemented by a consortium consisting of: Centre for Space investigation PAS, Łukasiewicz investigation Network – Institute of Aviation, Creotech Instruments SA, Scanway sp. z o.o. and PCO SA, and its leader is the Military method Academy. A Satellite Mission Control Center was besides established on WAT, which will support satellites.
The constellation “Piast” will get advanced resolution images of Earth. Interestingly, all 3 satellites will “see each other”. This will let them to monitor their position towards each another and adjust their flight trajectory to avoid collision. And that's all without human interference.
Today's launch of Falcon 9 was already the 4th effort to bring Polish satellites into orbit. erstwhile deadlines have been cancelled due to method defects. However, it is not the end, but the beginning of the improvement of space capabilities by the Polish Army, as in addition to the 3 satellites acquired from Iceye and the constellation “Piast” Poland besides ordered six optoelectronic satellites – 2 of them will be obtained under the POLEOS programme, and 4 – “MicroGlob”. They're expected to be taken into orbit within 2 years. If everything goes as planned, in 2027 Poland will have 12 satellites in space.
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