LeopardISS, the first experiment to be carried out as part of Poland’s IGNIS science and technology mission, has now been successfully installed aboard the International Space Station. The unit was mounted inside European Space Agency’s Columbus module, and its presence was confirmed by a photo taken from within the station.
It is the first time Polish-developed space technology has been integrated into the world’s largest orbital research laboratory.
The data processing unit, developed by KP Labs, is now awaiting the arrival of Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, who is expected to join the ISS crew in less than two weeks. His arrival will mark the start of the LeopardISS experiment, one of 13 projects selected for Poland’s first national research mission conducted aboard the ISS.
LeopardISS is a data processing unit designed for in-orbit validation of machine learning algorithms without the need to build or launch a dedicated satellite. The system was entirely developed by KP Labs engineers and optimized for flexible AI experimentation in space.
It has been installed on the ICE Cubes platform within the Columbus module, where it will be operated remotely from Earth. ICE Cubes provides power, data access, and continuous communication links, enabling long-term and repeatable technology demonstrations in microgravity.
The unit’s first task will be to test 3D terrain mapping algorithms developed by the Poznan University of Technology. Designed for planetary exploration, the software is intended to support autonomous terrain interpretation by future lunar and Martian rovers. By processing real data onboard the ISS, the experiment will evaluate the algorithms’ efficiency, reliability, and performance in actual space conditions.
LeopardISS is one of 13 projects selected for the IGNIS mission, the first Polish initiative to provide access to the infrastructure of the International Space Station for national research and technology efforts. The mission is coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology and the Polish Space Agency in cooperation with the European Space Agency.
According to the current launch schedule, the key phase of the IGNIS mission will take place on June 8, 2025, when astronaut Uznański-Wiśniewski, the second Polish citizen in history to fly into space, is expected to arrive at the ISS. During his stay, which will last approximately two weeks, he will support the execution of selected scientific and educational experiments, including the activation of LeopardISS.
The unit builds on KP Labs’ experience from the Intuition-1 mission, where AI-based onboard data processing was successfully demonstrated in orbit. LeopardISS expands this capability by offering a flexible platform for iterative testing of AI models in space, including image classification, change detection, data compression, and encryption directly in orbit. With this solution, organisations can gain valuable flight heritage without launching their own satellite.
