What SuperSharp does

SuperSharp Space Systems Ltd is a University of Cambridge spin-out founded in 2017 that develops thermal infrared (TIR) space telescopes for high-resolution Earth observation and Space Domain Awareness. The company's core technology is a patented unfolding self-aligning optical system that fits large-aperture telescope functionality into small satellite platforms, achieving precision alignment to one hundredth of a human hair's width and delivering up to 10x greater resolution per unit cost than state-of-the-art alternatives. Its product portfolio comprises three platforms: Hibiscus (flagship MWIR payload, 3m LWIR resolution, scheduled for Q1 2027 on Kongsberg NanoAvionics' MP42 via SpaceX), Spirit (wide-field-of-view TIR telescope with 8x swath for SDA, used in the DASA ALERT mission), and Casper (compact thermal camera for CubeSats/microsats, operationally capturing test images since November 2025).

The company monetises through three revenue streams: sale of telescope payloads and instruments to satellite operators (Hibiscus, Casper, Spirit hardware sales), funded contract development programmes with institutional partners including UK Space Agency, ESA, Innovate UK, and Dstl, and future sale of high-resolution TIR imagery and data products for climate, agriculture, security, and urban heat applications. GTM is enterprise field sales to government and defence customers in the UK and EMEA. SuperSharp is majority-owned by Spain-based Satlantis Group since May 2023, operates 40 employees from Cambridge Innovation Park, and is led by CEO Elizabeth Seward (effective May 2026, succeeded co-founder Marco Gomez-Jenkins), with Chairman Lord Stuart Peach (former Air Chief Marshal RAF) chairing the board.

Name

SuperSharp

Legal name

Supersharp Ltd

Website

https://supersharp.space

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Satellite Payload Hardware

NAICS

Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB), Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF)

Keywords

• Thermal infrared imaging
• Space telescopes
• Earth observation satellites
• Satellite payload hardware
• Unfolding optics technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Satellite Imagery and Data Products: Sale of high-resolution thermal infrared imagery captured by space telescopes for applications including climate monitoring, agriculture, security, and urban heat mapping
2. Space Telescope Hardware Sales: Sale of thermal infrared telescope payloads and instruments including Casper, Hibiscus, and Spirit to satellite operators and integrators
3. Contract Development Programmes: Funded development programmes with institutional partners including UK Space Agency, ESA, Innovate UK, and Dstl for specific mission and technology development

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SuperSharp designs, develops and manufactures thermal infrared (TIR) space telescopes for Earth observation and space domain awareness. Using proprietary unfolding self-aligning optics technology, the company fits large telescope apertures into compact small-satellite form factors, delivering high-resolution thermal imagery for government, defence and commercial institutional customers.

Product overview

SuperSharp is a University of Cambridge spin-out company developing thermal infrared (TIR) space telescopes for Earth Observation using proprietary unfolding self-alignment technology. The company offers three main thermal imaging products: Hibiscus (flagship MWIR unfolding telescope delivering 3m resolution for Earth observation missions like Blue Moon), Spirit (wide field of view TIR telescope with 8x larger swath for Space Domain Awareness and strip mapping applications), and Casper (compact thermal camera for micro/small satellites and CubeSats). Together, these products cover applications including climate resilience, urban heat monitoring, agricultural yield optimization, wildfire detection, maritime monitoring, and national security. SuperSharp is a Satlantis Group company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hibiscus SuperSharp's flagship thermal infrared imaging platform featuring self-aligning unfolding optics on a small satellite (150-200 kg). Delivers 3-meter spatial resolution LWIR imagery using a patented metrology and alignment system that deploys an extremely large aperture from a compact form factor. Designed for Earth observation missions such as Blue Moon serving climate, urban heat, agriculture and security use cases.
• Spirit Wide field of view thermal infrared telescope combining high-resolution thermal imaging with an 8x larger swath than state-of-the-art high-resolution satellite systems, achieved via a mosaic of 4 microbolometer arrays producing a 35 km swath. Implements sensor ground tracking for strip mapping. Used for Space Domain Awareness applications including satellite tracking and space debris monitoring.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4x greater resolution per unit cost vs current state-of-the-art
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kongsberg NanoAvionicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2025Partnership for MP42 microsatellite platform integration with SuperSharp's Hibiscus telescope for Blue Moon mission. NanoAvionics supplies the satellite bus while SuperSharp provides the payload. Mission scheduled for Q1 2027 launch on SpaceX Transporter rideshare. NanoAvionics also supplying additional MP42 platforms for Satlantis' sub-meter resolution Earth observation satellites.
• Centre for Earth Observation InstrumentationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Supported development of Hibiscus telescope prototype through the Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation.
• SatlantiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2023Satlantis acquired a controlling interest in SuperSharp in 2023, approved by UK Secretary of State. SuperSharp remains independent UK company with own brand while benefiting from Satlantis resources and infrastructure. Creates global leader in high-resolution electro-optical payloads for small satellites with presence in Spain, UK, US, and France. Satlantis provides financial and industrial resources for expansion and In-Orbit Demonstration.
• Berkeley SkyDeck EuropeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2022Joined Berkeley SkyDeck Europe's Batch 15 accelerator programme providing access to network of advisors, mentors, VCs, and corporations. Includes €145,000 SAFE investment for 6% equity. Programme held in Berkeley, California and Milan, Italy.
• University of CambridgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal spin-out origin of SuperSharp from University of Cambridge. Co-founders Prof. Ian Parry and Dr. George Hawker came from Cambridge research. Ongoing collaboration on thermal imaging technology development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GHGSat: GHGSat operates a commercial constellation of high-resolution satellites for greenhouse gas and thermal-infrared detection. Directly comparable as a thermal infrared small-sat operator targeting commercial and government environmental monitoring customers with overlapping decarbonisation, emissions, and industrial heat detection use cases.
• Constellr: Constellr is a German space-tech company developing thermal infrared satellite constellations for crop health, urban heat, and water stress monitoring. Direct competitor in the high-resolution thermal EO segment, targeting the same precision agriculture and climate resilience customers as SuperSharp.
• Dragonfly Aerospace: Dragonfly Aerospace designs and manufactures high-resolution imaging payloads and satellite platforms for smallsats, including multispectral and hyperspectral instruments. Comparable as a smallsat EO payload supplier serving similar commercial and government Earth observation customers.
• Hydrosat: Hydrosat builds thermal infrared analytics from space for agriculture, urban heat, and water management. Comparable as a thermal EO specialist targeting the same precision agriculture and climate adaptation verticals with similar satellite-imagery-then-analytics business model.

Broad incumbents

• Thales Alenia Space: Thales Alenia Space is a European space prime manufacturing complete Earth observation satellites and thermal/optical instruments. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving the same ESA and European institutional customers with established thermal EO heritage on larger platforms.
• Airbus Defence and Space: Airbus Defence and Space is a major prime contractor for large institutional thermal and optical Earth observation satellites (e.g., Sentinel, METimage). Comparable as the dominant incumbent supplier of thermal EO capabilities to European institutions — overlapping customer base with SuperSharp but operating at far greater scale and on conventional (non-unfolding) architectures.
• Satlantis: Satlantis is the parent company of SuperSharp and itself develops high-resolution electro-optical and thermal infrared payloads for small satellites. It is comparable as both a sibling platform (multi-spectral EO instruments, integrated satellites) and the acquirer/strategic anchor for SuperSharp's technology roadmap.
• Satellogic: Satellogic operates a commercial Earth observation constellation with sub-meter multispectral imagery. Comparable as a vertically integrated smallsat EO operator with overlapping commercial/government customers, though its current spectral coverage is broader visible/NIR rather than thermal infrared.

Emerging players

• OroraTech: OroraTech is a Munich-based space startup operating a thermal infrared satellite constellation focused on real-time wildfire detection and industrial heat monitoring. Comparable in thermal infrared payload-to-data-product model, though narrower in vertical focus (wildfire and industrial monitoring) than SuperSharp's multi-segment approach.
• Pixxel: Pixxel is an Indian-American space-tech company building the world's highest-resolution hyperspectral satellite constellation. Comparable as an emerging commercial smallsat EO operator targeting similar agriculture, climate, and defense analytics customers, though focused on hyperspectral rather than thermal infrared imagery.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SuperSharp