Key highlights

The Scanway Optical Payload (SOP) is a high-resolution telescope series designed for Earth Observation (EO) applications, compatible with both microsatellites and nanosatellites. The SOP offers flexible configuration options, supporting detectors across various spectral bands, including visible (VIS), near-infrared (NIR), shortwave infrared (SWIR), and multispectral imaging. Additionally, it accommodates different imaging resolutions (GSD), making it adaptable to diverse mission requirements.

Engineered to withstand the harsh conditions of space, the SOP utilizes advanced materials and technologies to ensure durability and performance. The payload is equipped with in-house designed electronics, offering onboard image storage and processing capabilities, facilitated by FPGA modules for enhanced data handling and analysis.

SOP available configuration types:

SOP nano – for nanosatellites < 10 kg total mass, with 20-100 mm aperture, able to perform the imagery in NIR/PAN/SWIR/RGB and multispectral with GSD up to 5 m/pixel.
SOP micro – for microsatellites < 200 kg total mass, with 120-450 mm aperture, able to perform the imagery in NIR/PAN/SWIR/RGB and multispectral with up to submeter GSD.

Applications

Urban Planning and Infrastructure Mapping
Wildfire Mapping and Disaster Response
Marine and Water Bodies Monitoring
Agricultural Monitoring
Forest Health Monitoring
Facility Monitoring and Reconnaissance
Other Remote Sensing Applications

Key features

Modular design, allowing scalability from nano- to microsatellites
Optics and telescope allowing for adaptable performance, such as spatial resolution, image quality parameters (e.g. MTF) to application needs
Wide spectral window of optics
Possibility to integrate with any sensors, including multi-sensor systems; RGB, mono, NIR, linear, multi- and hyperspectral
Athermal telescope structure
Telescope designed according to the Space 4.0 philosophy
Possibility to integrate star sensors into one structure with the telescope to reduce the impact of AOCS on both systems
Possibility to integrate telescope shutter safety systems
Possibility to integrate telecommunication solutions into optical path of imaging sensors
Use of COTS and ITAR-free elements

Customization

Product customization is possible. Scanway can deliver either tailored-to-fit SOP modules or new solutions, depending on the requirements.

Flight heritage

The first payload from the SOP series was launched on January 3, 2023 and successfully performed on orbit (SOP 3U/50).

Customers

ESA
Nara Space Technology
Ghalam
German Orbital Systems
Space Inventor
Marble Imaging
KP Labs
GMV Innovating Solutions
CBK PAN
ZAITRA
Unibap Space Solutions
Creotech Instruments
Intuitive Machines
DLR

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Last updated: 2026-01-14