Scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter rideshare mission, the satellite will operate from a 510-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. At the heart of this mission is Eycore’s deployable active phased-array antenna, consisting of one fixed and four unfolding panels. This design enables a large aperture in space while maintaining compact launch dimensions. The payload will be integrated with NanoAvionics’ flight-proven MP42 microsatellite bus, which provides the necessary peak power, agile attitude control, stability, and high-speed data downlink to support advanced SAR imaging.
The mission will demonstrate several imaging modes tailored to varied intelligence and operational needs. These include Stripmap mode for continuous swath coverage, Spotlight mode for high-resolution targeting of priority areas, and ScanSAR mode for wide-area surveillance. These capabilities will allow operators to rapidly switch between large-scale monitoring, such as along national borders, and detailed inspections at the level of individual vehicles. The platform is designed to support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), maritime domain awareness, border security, and rapid disaster response operations.
In parallel with this first mission, Eycore and NanoAvionics are jointly developing an enhanced satellite bus and a next-generation SAR payload. This future system aims to deliver higher imaging resolution, greater swath widths, longer imaging durations, and improved incidence angles, all contributing to a more capable and responsive SAR solution for European defence and security.
Tomasz Kusowski, Co-founder and Vice President of the Management Board at Eycore, emphasized the strategic value of the partnership: “Partnering with a reliable bus provider like Kongsberg NanoAvionics lets us focus on perfecting our SAR technology while de-risking the platform, launch, and operations. This demonstrator is the springboard for high-performance European SAR satellites that will deliver tactical data for national security and defense applications.”
Atle Wøllo, CEO of Kongsberg NanoAvionics, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the growing need for sovereign Earth observation systems in Europe. “Across Europe we are seeing rising demand for domestically controlled, all-weather Earth observation. By combining our small satellites with Eycore’s sensors, we are giving governments a fast, cost-effective path to sovereign SAR capabilities that strengthen national security and resilience,” he said.
