Creotech Instruments engaged in the LISA Mission – €3.6M contract with Leonardo

Creotech Instruments, the largest Polish manufacturer of satellites, satellite systems and components, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, has signed an electronics assembly contract with Leonardo S.p.A., one of the leading players in the European defence and aerospace industry. The contract covers MAIT (Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration & Testing) tasks within the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) research mission. The Cold Gas Micro Propulsion subsystem covered by the agreement is being developed by Leonardo. The value of the work commissioned to Creotech amounts to €3.6 million.

Under the agreement, Creotech Instruments will be responsible for the assembly, integration, and verification testing of electronic modules for the micro-propulsion control subsystem, which ensures the precise positioning of satellites in the LISA constellation.

LISA is the most ambitious space mission ever undertaken by the European Space Agency and will be the first gravitational wave observatory in space. Gravitational waves are invisible ripples in spacetime, generated by the most powerful events in the Universe, such as the collision of black holes.

The mission will comprise three space probes flying in a triangular formation around the Sun in Earth’s orbit. Each space probe will be positioned 2.5 million kilometres from the other two – six times the distance from the Earth to the Moon. The LISA constellation satellites will measure the distances between them using laser beams. By filtering and analysing these measurements, scientists will be able to observe minute changes in distance caused by gravitational waves passing through the Solar System, enabling the detection of phenomena predicted by Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity that have never been directly observed. Advanced micro-propulsion systems, which precisely position the satellites, play a critical role in the mission, as they are essential for the correct alignment of the laser ranging transmitters and receivers. The LISA mission is scheduled to launch in 2035.

Creotech Instruments’ participation in the LISA project confirms our strong position in the European space sector and reflects the trust placed in us by Leonardo S.p.A., one of the largest aerospace and defence companies in Europe and a longstanding partner of the European Space Agency. We have been invited to contribute to one of ESA’s most prestigious and technologically challenging projects. Throughout its execution, we will leverage our experience from numerous other programmes and missions, our intellectual capital, and our advanced production facilities to provide precise, high-tech electronics modules. Such contracts are not only a source of great satisfaction but also a key driver of our company’s value- they improve profitability, develop core competencies, and further strengthen our position in the global supply chain, both for the space sector and for companies seeking a trusted partner in specialised electronics,” said Dr. Grzegorz Brona, President of the Management Board of Creotech Instruments S.A.

The LISA project aligns with the Company’s strategy of active participation in international space programmes and the development of proprietary technologies with the potential for global commercialisation.

The agreement with Leonardo S.p.A. marks another step in strengthening Creotech Instruments’ position as a partner of choice for space agencies and the advanced technology industry in Europe and worldwide.

Leonardo S.p.A. is one of Europe’s largest defence, aeronautics, and space technology corporations, listed on the FTSE MIB index of the largest companies of strategic importance to Italy’s economy. Its market capitalisation makes it one of the key players in the European high-technology sector. Leonardo employs over 50,000 people worldwide and operates across critical technology domains- from security and defence systems to aviation and advanced satellite solutions. The company is a vital part of Italy’s national industry and actively participates in NATO and European Union defence programmes. Leonardo is a long-standing partner of the European Space Agency and plays a key role in the most advanced scientific and industrial projects commissioned by European and international institutions.