Poland is joining the race to develop spacecraft that can repair, refuel and protect satellites in orbit, with the country preparing to build its first unmanned servicing vehicle.
The project, led by Polish space company PIAP Space with an international consortium, aims to give Polish companies a foothold in one of the fastest-growing areas of the space sector: satellite servicing and orbital logistics.
Beyond commercial applications, such technology is becoming increasingly important for protecting critical space infrastructure as satellites face growing risks from interference, damage and orbital debris.
The spacecraft’s main tasks will include carrying out visual inspections, transport operations and servicing work, according to the Government Information Centre.
The announcement follows Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s recent unveiling of the location of a European Space Agency (ESA) centre in Poland. During the event, Tusk said one of ESA’s goals, supported by Polish funding, would be the construction of “Poland’s first spacecraft”, which would provide significantly greater transport capabilities between Earth and satellites, satellite servicing, refuelling and more.
In response to a Polish Press Agency inquiry, the Government Information Centre said the servicing spacecraft project was “a new generation system being developed for the European Space Agency”.
“Ultimately, an unmanned satellite will be built, whose main tasks will be to perform complex manoeuvres around other satellites, conduct visual inspections, transport, and perform maintenance work. PIAP Space is the leader of the international project consortium that also includes other Polish companies and public institutions, among them Creotech Instruments S.A., Łukasiewicz Institute of Aviation, GMV Polska, and the Military University of Technology, with substantive support from the Polish Space Agency,” the Government Information Centre reported.
As the number of satellites in orbit grows, space agencies and companies are increasingly moving beyond one-off missions towards a future where spacecraft can be inspected, upgraded, repaired and protected while in space.
PIAP Space said work has now entered a phase “that included the detailed definition of the first demonstration mission” and the development of a preliminary design for the spacecraft.
The first mission is planned for 2029. It is intended to confirm the efficiency of the technical solutions needed to conduct orbital operations, including orbit changes, manoeuvres and operations in close proximity to other objects.
The project is funded through ESA’s Space Transportation Systems programme, part of the Future Launchers Preparatory Programme, which develops orbital transportation and logistics systems.
The programme consists of three missions, each of which will be expanded with additional functionalities.
“Three spacecraft architectures will be developed to demonstrate technologies from the RPO (Rendezvous and Proximity Operations) group - i.e., close-approach manoeuvres and direct interactions with another object in orbit, such as docking, capture, and even refuelling and repair. In the broader perspective, these solutions will form the basis for the development of logistics services in space and activities related to satellite security,” PIAP Space reported.
PIAP Space said the project represents an important step towards creating a European supplier of advanced space logistics technologies.
The company said it also reflects a wider transformation in the space sector — from one-off missions towards infrastructure requiring ongoing management, maintenance and servicing. The project is also intended to address challenges linked to protecting space infrastructure in orbit, including the needs of the Ministry of National Defence.
Following Tusk’s remarks, Professor Grzegorz Wrochna, former president of the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) and director of global affairs at Creotech Instruments, told PAP that orbital operations would become increasingly important.
“We need to learn how to diagnose and repair satellites, but also refuel them if they run out of fuel, and protect them from malicious incidents, such as eavesdropping or jamming,” Wrochna said.
In his opinion, orbital operations are also important for clearing space of inoperative, cluttering devices. Wrochna added that the Polish consortium was working on these very tasks.
PIAP Space is a Polish space company founded in 2017 and a spin-off of the Łukasiewicz Research Network - Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements (Łukasiewicz - PIAP). It specialises in space robotics and supporting equipment for the space industry. (PAP)
lt/ abu/ bar/
tr. RL
