Poland’s Mikroglob-1 satellite captures images of Chinese aircraft carrier construction

The first high-resolution images from Poland’s Mikroglob-1 observation satellite have revealed details of a naval shipyard in Dalian, China. The imagery, released by the Polish aerospace company Creotech Instruments, shows the construction of China’s fourth aircraft carrier.

Specialists identified compartments intended for nuclear reactors that remain uncovered by the deck, making them clearly visible from space. The Mikroglob-1 satellite, launched in July, utilizes advanced technology to capture images in both the visible spectrum and near-infrared, a capability recently demonstrated through imagery of New Orleans. This launch is part of an expanding Polish space program, which recently placed three additional satellites—Mikroglob-2, -3, and -4—into orbit to strengthen sovereign satellite capabilities and national security.