Warsaw seen from Polish satellites. Creotech Instruments releases images for Poland’s Independence Day

Creotech Instruments, a Polish satellite manufacturer and space mission integrator, has released images of Warsaw captured by the Mikroglob-2 and Mikroglob-4 satellites, two of the three Polish satellites launched into orbit on October 1, 2026. The images were acquired during a single pass over Poland, approximately one minute apart, just 16 days after launch. Previously published Earth observation images had been captured by Mikroglob-1, the first satellite in the constellation. The newly released images demonstrate further progress in commissioning additional satellites within the Mikroglob Satellite Earth Observation System (SSOZ), being developed by Creotech Instruments under a contract with the Polish Armament Agency.

The release of images of Poland’s capital ahead of Independence Day carries particular symbolic significance. It highlights that national independence today is not only about security on Earth, but also about developing domestic expertise and space technologies that enable independent access to information from orbit.

"Every new image captured by the Mikroglob satellites represents another important step in building Poland’s Earth observation capabilities. We are particularly pleased to present data acquired by additional satellites in the constellation. This demonstrates that the technology being developed by Creotech Instruments is moving beyond the capabilities of a single satellite and becoming the foundation of an integrated system. Presenting images of Warsaw ahead of Poland’s Independence Day also holds symbolic significance for us. In today’s world, national independence and security increasingly depend on the ability to develop advanced technologies, build domestic space infrastructure and independently acquire strategic data. We believe that Mikroglob will play an important role in strengthening Poland’s technological sovereignty and developing national expertise in the space sector."

dr hab. Grzegorz Brona

President of the Management Board of Creotech Instruments S.A.

The images of Warsaw were captured on October 17, 2026, just 16 days after the satellites were launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission. Both images were acquired during a single pass over Poland, approximately one minute apart, by two different satellites in the Mikroglob constellation.

The first image was captured by the Mikroglob-4 satellite using its multispectral RGB (colour) imaging channel. It shows Warsaw in the morning light, covering an area stretching from Powązki in the west to the Warsaw Uprising Mound in the east, and from Pole Mokotowskie in the south to the Warsaw Citadel in the north.

Close-up views reveal several landmarks, including:

• The Royal Castle in Warsaw and the Old Town

• Pole Mokotowskie Park and the National Library

• Belweder Palace, Łazienki Royal Park and the Palace on the Isle

The second image was captured by the Mikroglob-2 satellite using its panchromatic imaging channel, approximately one minute before Mikroglob-4 acquired its image. It covers a similar area of Warsaw, allowing viewers to identify distinctive landmarks and features of the urban landscape.

Close-up views highlight several landmarks, including:

• The Warsaw Citadel

• The National Stadium in Warsaw

• The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Saxon Garden

Next Stage in Commissioning the Earth Observation System

The Mikroglob-2, Mikroglob-3 and Mikroglob-4 satellites were launched into orbit on October 1, 2026, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-18 mission. Following this launch, all four satellites forming the Polish Mikroglob constellation are now in orbit. The system is currently undergoing commissioning and acceptance testing.

Before the satellites achieve their required performance specifications, further work is needed, including calibration of the imaging instruments and the systems responsible for precise satellite attitude control. These activities are intended to prepare the satellites to carry out observation tasks in accordance with the project requirements.

The newly released images of Warsaw provide further evidence of progress in these activities. While previously published Earth observation images were acquired by Mikroglob-1, the latest images demonstrate the capabilities of additional satellites within the constellation.

Poland’s Earth Observation Constellation

Mikroglob is a four-satellite Earth observation system being developed by Creotech Instruments under a contract with the Polish Armament Agency. The system is based on HyperSat, the company's proprietary satellite platform.

The project represents an important step in developing Poland’s domestic capabilities in the design, manufacture, integration and operation of advanced satellite systems. Establishing a national constellation will enable Poland to further enhance its ability to acquire Earth observation data from orbit and strengthen its independence in this strategically important field.

Mikroglob forms part of Poland’s broader efforts to expand its Earth observation capabilities, complementing satellite programmes based on very-high-resolution imaging systems. A larger number of satellites enables more frequent observations of selected areas, which is particularly important for security and defence applications.

The project is co-financed through Poland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (KPO).