Belgian company Simera Sense and Spanish company IDOM announced on September 17, 2026, an agreement to develop and produce the optical system for the high-resolution MultiScape350 Earth-imaging platform, the next-generation imaging instrument platform that Simera Sense is developing for small satellites.
Under the partnership, IDOM will develop and produce the Optical Front End for the MultiScape350 payload, covering advanced optical design, optomechanical engineering, manufacturing, and qualification. Simera Sense will provide the sensor subsystem, electronics, thermal management, calibration methodology, satellite interface, and integration architecture, in addition to turning the system into a product suitable for integration into space missions.
A System Designed for Small Satellites
MultiScape350 is intended to meet the growing demand for higher-resolution Earth-observation imagery among commercial, civil, and government customers. The companies say the system will provide very high-resolution imaging capabilities while remaining compatible with the size, weight, and power constraints imposed by modern satellite platforms.
The announcement is based on an estimate from Novaspace that more than 6,500 Earth-observation satellites could be launched by 2035, as governments expand their sovereign intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. The announcement does not provide details on the system’s actual spatial resolution, completion date, or the first mission that will use it.
Division of Roles Between the Two Companies
The partnership reflects a division between components requiring different areas of expertise: IDOM is responsible for the precision optical and mechanical segment, while Simera Sense retains responsibility for the payload’s sensing components, electronics, calibration, and final integration. According to the announcement, this division enables the companies to offer an imaging system to satellite manufacturers and operators worldwide.
Johann du Toit, CEO of Simera Sense, said the collaboration could accelerate the development of a competitive Earth-imaging solution, while Gaizka Murga, head of astronomy and space at IDOM, described the partnership as a European collaboration bringing together complementary capabilities in advanced space technology.
Editorial Analysis: What Changes in Practice?
The most important change is not the announcement of a new sensor with published specifications, but the creation of a joint industrial pathway for a high-resolution optical system that can be integrated into small satellites. This could matter to satellite manufacturers and Earth-observation mission operators seeking payloads that do not require large platforms or high power resources, while also strengthening the presence of a European supply chain in the field of space optics.
Nevertheless, the platform’s commercial and technical value remains not fully determined at this stage; the source does not mention a production or launch date and provides no figures for resolution, data-transfer rate, price, or contracted customers. Simera Sense says that more than 60 satellite manufacturers and research organizations use its technologies worldwide, and also indicates that it has more than 50 customers, but these figures relate to the company’s broader activities and do not mean that MultiScape350 has been adopted by those entities.