SuperSharp Space Systems (also known as SuperSharp) is a space technology company and a University of Cambridge spin-out, specializing in Earth observation. They are developing unfolding space telescopes to capture high-resolution thermal infrared (TIR) images of the Earth, fitting large telescopes in small satellites for more affordable and frequent imaging. They have received funding from the UK Space Agency and are working towards an in-orbit demonstration in late 2026, with plans to launch on SpaceX's Transporter rideshare service using Kongsberg NanoAvionics' MP42 microsatellite platform. Key applications of their technology include climate change mitigation, crop monitoring, and urban heat loss detection.
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SuperSharp was established as a spin-off from the University of Cambridge in 2017 and joined the Satlantis group in 2023.
The applications of the Satlantis and SuperSharp infrared camera include detecting thermal stress in crops, forest fires, and identifying urban heat islands for energy efficiency.
Satlantis is developing a deployable high-resolution infrared camera in collaboration with its British subsidiary, SuperSharp.
SuperSharp specializes in thermal infrared electro-optical technologies and collaborates with Satlantis on a deployable TIR camera that detects thermal signatures from space.
Satlantis acquired a majority stake in SuperSharp, a British university spin-out developing unfolding space telescopes to obtain thermal infrared imagery.
SuperSharp received initial funding from UK government agencies to develop a space-rated version of its telescope with testing in space planned by early 2025.
Adding SuperSharp’s thermal infrared technology enables Satlantis to offer payloads across a full spectrum of imaging solutions from the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to long-wave infrared (LWIR).
An undisclosed investment from Satlantis gives SuperSharp the financial and industrial resources needed to deploy an in-orbit demonstrator in 2025 using a satellite platform and launch provider it has yet to secure.
SuperSharp is developing a foldable thermal infrared telescope that would enable satellites as small as 12U to provide images with a 6-meter ground sampling distance.