Polish satellite maker Creotech plans tenfold production increase by 2029

OPA WIRE, Oct 19 (OPA) — Polish satellite manufacturer Creotech Instruments plans a tenfold increase in production capacity by 2029, targeting an output of 40 to 100 satellites annually. The company intends to open a new facility in the Mazowieckie region to replace its current Piaseczno site, which is limited to 10 satellites per year. This expansion coincides with broader European efforts to secure sovereign space capabilities amid concerns over the political use of launch infrastructure.

CEO Grzegorz Brona stated that despite the company’s manufacturing growth, Europe remains reliant on U.S. rockets to reach orbit. Creotech has intentionally excluded U.S. components from its hardware to circumvent American arms export regulations, yet it still utilizes SpaceX launch services for its military-grade payloads, including the MikroGlob constellation. Brona noted that launch vehicles are increasingly functioning as tools of political leverage, complicating the continent's strategic autonomy.

Europe’s space sector currently trails the United States significantly, accounting for only eight of the 324 orbital launches recorded last year. While the European Space Agency is accelerating the deployment of Ariane 6 and Vega-C rockets, demand for satellite capacity continues to outpace available launch slots. European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius has proposed increasing the EU’s government satellite fleet to 630 units, requiring 62 annual launches by 2034 to meet the requirements of the Galileo and Copernicus programs.

Looking ahead, Creotech is expanding its footprint with new subsidiaries in France and Germany. The company, which currently produces small satellites and microsatellites using its Hypersat platform, aims to develop 500 kg satellites by 2032. These efforts align with wider European initiatives, including the European Launcher Challenge and the development of commercial spaceports in Scotland and Norway, intended to bolster the continent's independent access to space.