Simera Sense and KP Labs have signed a MoU to co-develop compact, AI-powered optical payloads by combining their flight-proven sensors and onboard data processing units, streamlining integration for smarter small satellite missions.
- Their first joint deployment will take place on the Craft Prospect OPS-SAT VOLT mission in 2026, where Simera Sense’s HyperScape100 camera and KP Labs’ Leopard DPU will operate together onboard a CubeSat, enabling autonomous in-orbit data processing.
- The partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward modular, interoperable satellite systems and is aimed at reducing latency, optimizing downlink efficiency, and supporting applications like environmental monitoring, agriculture, and urban analytics.
The MoU aims to establish a foundation for closer collaboration for joint deployments where mission-ready components from both partners can be combined into compact, intelligent payloads with minimal integration overhead. By bringing together advanced optical sensing and in-orbit AI processing, both companies aim to accelerate the delivery of smarter small satellite missions.
“This agreement marks a natural step in the evolution of our collaboration with Simera Sense,” said Michał Zachara, COO at KP Labs. “By combining proven, flight-ready technologies, we’re offering a shortcut to mission teams who want to deploy optical-AI solutions without building everything from scratch.”
A concrete example of this collaboration is the upcoming OPS-SAT VOLT mission led by Craft Prospect in partnership with ESA. For the first time, KP Labs and Simera Sense will fly together as an integrated payload: Simera Sense will deliver the HyperScape100, a high-performance multispectral camera, while KP Labs will provide the Leopard Data Processing Unit (DPU) running AI-based algorithms directly onboard. Craft Prospect are the pioneers behind the satellite mission, which will serve as a demonstrator for reconfigurable optical and processing systems on a CubeSat platform. With the mission due for launch in mid 2026, OPS-SAT VOLT represents the first formal instance of the partnership in action, highlighting how both technologies can operate jointly to capture and process data autonomously in orbit.
Speaking about the collaboration, Dr. Hina Khan, Head of Commercial at Craft Prospect said: “Craft Prospect is pleased to see the development of the relationship between KP Labs and Simera Sense through the initial discussions on the OPS-SAT VOLT mission, which will demonstrate both partners capabilities for on board processing and optical observations on a small satellite platform.” About what lies ahead, she added: “The mission launch, planned for mid-2026, will provide valuable flight heritage on the integrated payload and help develop further mission opportunities. We look forward to working with KP Labs and Simera Sense in the future.”
The collaboration also underscores a broader shift in how small satellite missions are being built, favouring modular, interoperable components that can be integrated efficiently without bespoke engineering. KP Labs and Simera Sense are already working together on future mission concepts and are in discussions with partners looking to deploy intelligent optical payloads across various orbital platforms.
“Simera Sense sees this collaboration with KP Labs as an essential step in enabling responsive EO missions with smaller satellites in the European landscape,” said Thys Cronje, CCO of Simera Sense. “For Simera Sense, providing our customers with a strategic advantage with near-real-time space-based intelligence is crucial.”
The integrated payload will be demonstrated at selected events in late 2025, highlighting how mission-ready sensors and onboard computing units can deliver meaningful results without ground intervention. This partnership is expected to serve as a foundation for future collaborations across both institutional and commercial missions.
