- About / Our heritage
Our heritage
From a foundation of engineering excellence to shaping the future of space imaging.
Founded in 2018 as part of the Simera Group, Simera Sense was created to make world-class space optics accessible to the fast-growing nano and microsatellite market. Driven by a passion for precision and innovation, the company bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and affordability in Earth observation and has been headquartered in Leuven, Belgium since 2022.
Our journey so far
Our vision
Empowering our customers to make our world a better place.
Our mission
Our mission is to make space-based intelligence effortless, enabling the world to gain new insights.
Our facilities
At Simera Sense, precision manufacturing is supported by our state-of-the-art 600 m² ISO 7-certified cleanroom facility; one of the most advanced of its kind in Africa. Designed for the assembly and testing of high-performance optical payloads, the facility combines strict environmental control, secure access management, and sustainable operations, with 30% of its power supplied by solar energy. Every aspect is engineered to ensure reliability, consistency, and quality across production.
Our investors
The growth of Simera Sense has been shaped by a shared belief in the power of innovation and precision engineering. Backed by a trusted network of investors, including Simera Holdings, Scotstone Trust, the NATO Innovation Fund, NewSpace Capital, and Knife Capital, the company continues to scale its capabilities and global footprint. Their support reflects confidence in Simera Sense’s vision to redefine space imaging through advanced optical payloads and sustainable, world-class manufacturing.
Our global footprint
Simera Sense Belgium (HQ)
In 2022, Simera Sense Europe was established in Leuven, Belgium, as the corporate headquarters of the company. This strategic move aligns our presence with our growing European customer base and investor network. The Belgian facility is also set to evolve into a key production hub for our next-generation very high-resolution (VHR) payloads.
Simera Sense South Africa
South Africa is the original home of Simera Sense, founded in 2018. Our facility in Somerset West, just outside of Cape Town, is home to our 1280 m² production facility which includes a 600 m² ISO-7 certified cleanroom, where all our products are currently developed, built and tested.
Simera Sense UK
Simera Sense UK was established in Glasgow to strengthen our manufacturing footprint and support the growing demand for our payloads. The UK site will focus on expanding our electronics production capacity, ensuring we can continue to meet the needs of our global partners.
Simera Sense France
Simera Sense France was established in 2024 and is registered in Toulouse, France. The subsidiary’s primary objective is to lead new product development, with a dedicated product line focused on SSA applications.
Our global footprint
Product heritage
Simera Sense develops high-performance optical payloads that are fully space-proven at TRL 9. With over 40 payloads operating in orbit, our technology is trusted by leading satellite operators worldwide.
Each payload is available in multiple configurations to meet diverse objectives, from multispectral and hyperspectral imaging to precise mapping and intelligence gathering.
Product
xScape50
xScape100
xScape200
Total number (FM) sold
>5
>70
>50
Total number launched
>5
>30
>5
TRL
9
9
9
Recognition & achievements
- Optical payloads flown on numerous international satellite missions.
- Key role in hyperspectral constellations, supporting climate monitoring and open data programs.
- Trusted partner in European and global space projects, recognised for innovation and reliability.
Our experience
The strength of Simera Sense lies in the experience and dedication of its people. With an average of more than 25 years in the industry, our leadership and engineering team bring together decades of expertise in optics, systems design, manufacturing, and business strategy. This depth of experience has shaped the company’s growth, guiding our commitment to technical excellence and long-term innovation.
Our customers
Simera Sense has a global customer base with more than 50 customers worldwide, including:
Looking ahead
Simera Sense is building on its strong heritage to shape the next era of space-based imaging. With xScape300, xScape500, and our non-Earth imaging range in advanced development, powered by proprietary Edge AI algorithms and hardware, Simera Sense is redefining space-based imaging. Our mission is to deliver AI-ready, autonomous solutions that turn high-value data into instant, actionable insights, unlocking new markets and accelerating growth.
Our heritage has always been about precision, innovation, and trust, and those values will continue to guide us as we expand our global footprint and empower the next generation of satellite missions.
From our roots in South Africa to our home in Europe, our journey continues; pioneering the future of space imaging.