Development of Poland’s largest Earth Observation instrument presented a significant challenge. The primary objective was to design a telescope capable of capturing high-resolution imagery from an unusually low orbit of 350 km, achieving a spatial resolution of approximately 1 meter per pixel across two spectral ranges: visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR).
The SOP200 imager (Scanway Optical Payload), featuring a 200 mm aperture—referring to the diameter of the instrument’s primary mirror—has been designed with a highly specialized optical system. This system enables the optical beam to be split into two paths, directing each beam to separate sensors. The payload is specifically engineered for integration with a microsatellite platform.
The images obtained during the ground-based testing campaign meet the mission requirements, delivering a calculated resolution of 1.2 m/pixel from an orbit of 350 km. The mission was launched on August 16, 2024.
