The Space Technology Center (CTK, Centrum Technologii Kosmicznych) will be established within RADMOR, a company based in Gdynia. The satellite launch initiative will grant Poland strategic autonomy, providing a solution that is entirely under the control of the Polish Armed Forces. This ensures that no external service provider can restrict or disable the system’s capabilities.
The proposed initiative is fully aligned with the objectives of Poland’s national space strategy, serving as both an extension and a complement to currently implemented programs.
The first stage of the Space Technology Center’s development will be to provide continuous access to data from Earth’s surface observation 24 hours a day regardless of the weather. This requires the use of a constellation of reconnaissance satellites using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology.
The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology facilitates the capture of high-resolution images of stationary objects. By employing a compact physical antenna in conjunction with the Doppler effect and advanced signal processing techniques, it effectively emulates the performance of a much larger, real antenna.
Artificial aperture radars are used to create images of the terrain surface, due to the penetration of the microwave beam through clouds, independence in obtaining images from sunlight and the ability to penetrate obstacles in the form of objects in the natural environment.
Obtaining information about changes in the position of enemy forces, for example the movements of their troops, requires the shortest possible time between subsequent images of the same place (the so-called revisit time).
Therefore, for strictly military applications, a constellation of several or even a dozen satellites is required, rather than a single satellite. In the Central and Eastern European region, at least sixteen satellites are necessary to achieve a revisit time of approximately 60 minutes.
The Space Technology Center aims to achieve strategic security, although at the first stage of development, existing solutions will be used – Polish and external, with a gradual introduction of full technology transfer. The CTK is considering acquiring technology from several different partners.
The system developed by the Space Technology Center will feature advanced, modern technology, offering a world-class solution integrated with unique Polish cryptography. The project will also include the establishment of a ground control station to facilitate mission management and ensure continuous data reception.