Creotech Instruments wins 13.9 million EUR ESA contract for SAWA mission

Creotech Instruments has secured a contract worth 13.9 million EUR with the European Space Agency (ESA) to lead the SAWA mission, a project designed to monitor space weather. This marks the first time ESA has utilized a ‘mission-as-a-service’ model with a Polish entity serving as the prime contractor and integrator.

The contract covers project phases B, C, D, and E, following a completed feasibility study. Creotech will be responsible for the entire lifecycle, including satellite construction, system integration, mission preparation, and execution. The project is scheduled to begin in October 2026, with a planned satellite launch in early 2029 and full system handover by September 2029. The mission aims to provide real-time data on the Earth's magnetosphere and thermosphere to better forecast geomagnetic storms and other space weather threats.

A consortium of Polish organizations will support the project, including the Polish Academy of Sciences (responsible for scientific instruments), Wrocław University of Science and Technology (research instruments), and N7 Space. There is also an option to extend the collaboration with a two-year data transmission service valued at approximately 1.9 million EUR.