Space is becoming more accessible. It’s now easier than ever before to launch rockets into orbit. Lithuania is one of the nations that are benefiting from this change, and Space Hub LT at Innovation Agency Lithuania has emerged as an important resource for the country’s growing space industry.
"Lithuania's role in space technology has grown significantly of late, fueled by the global reduction in orbital launch costs," says Egle Elena Sataite, Head of Space Hub LT. "It is crucial to emphasize that a complete ecosystem now exists within Lithuania: encompassing everything from satellites and their integral components, such as propulsion systems, solar arrays, and lasers for communication and payload integration, to sophisticated IT systems and data processing solutions."
With an ecosystem of technology firms, scientific labs, and highly trained professionals in place, Lithuania is now in a position to export technology like software, lasers, and satellite components for other countries to use for their space operations.
One specific area where the nation has gained an international reputation is satellite manufacturing for commercial, scientific, and defense purposes.
“Our comprehensive capability for producing space technology allows for a wide range of applications, including security and defense, telecommunications, agriculture, and scientific research, tailored to the specific requirements of the satellite mission,” Sataite says.
While Lithuanian sectors that cater to space-based economies are growing, the nation is hardly an overnight phenomenon. Instead, this explosion in Lithuania’s space technology production is a result of years of work and innovation.
Laying the groundwork
The first Lithuanian satellites rocketed into space in 2014 aboard a Cygnus spacecraft on a resupply mission to the International Space Station. The nanosatellites, Lituanica SAT-1 from Vilnius University and LitSat-1 from Kaunas University of Technology and Lithuanian Space Association, represent a key moment in Lithuanian space history.
The satellites deployed from the ISS, each with its own mission. The piezoelectric tests that LitSat-1 accomplished led to improvements in satellite navigation. The satellite laid the groundwork for future experiments that helped to refine the way that satellites are controlled today.
Lituanica SAT-1 was used to experiment with solar cells. It also captured images of Lithuania from space and demonstrated radio transmissions. The success of Lituanica SAT-1’s experiments resulted in the launch of one of Lithuania’s most successful space companies: NanoAvionics.
Today, Kongsberg NanoAvionics builds satellite buses (a satellite’s outer shell) for microsatellites and CubeSats, as well as a variety of satellite components. As a mission integrator, the firm is essentially a one-stop shop where clients can get everything they need to launch a satellite.
“Our supported mission portfolio includes satellite communications, signals intelligence (SIGINT), Earth observation, including hyperspectral and multispectral imaging, sub-meter resolution optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar imaging, very high-resolution (2.8m GSD) thermal infrared imaging, and fundamental research and tech demonstrations,” says Augustinas Lubys, Head of Business Development and Marketing at Kongsberg NanoAvionics.
Mass production
In 2025, NanoAvionics secured one of Europe's largest satellite orders by volume: a €122.5 million contract to manufacture 280 broadband internet satellites in Lithuania for a U.S. company called SpinLaunch. NanoAvionics has also won a contract as a prime satellite constellation supplier for a NATO member's government.
It’s a busy time for NanoAvionics. With over 55 customer satellites in orbit and a backlog of well over 300 satellites, the company is looking to expand its operations with a new facility to meet the strong demand.
“To deliver on our large order backlog, we are building one of Europe's most advanced serial satellite production facilities in Vilnius, where we will be able to produce hundreds of satellites per year, ranging from 10 to 500 kilograms in mass,” Lubys said.
With a long history of satellite manufacturing, a new production facility underway, and a number of large contracts to fulfill, NanoAvionics is set to make an even larger footprint in the future. The company is a strong example of how Lithuania's space history has contributed to the industry’s current success.
Moving into orbit
Propulsion systems help satellites fine tune their position, which is necessary to ensure a satellite maintains the correct orbit and avoids collisions. One of Lithuania’s newer companies working on satellite propulsion is called Uvireso.
Uvireso was founded in 2020 and develops electric propulsion systems for small satellites. The company successfully completed the project for ESA’s business incubation centres in 2025, and they signed a contract with the ESA to develop Hall Electric Thrusters, which use Bismuth as a propellant instead of Xenon. Using Bismuth will increase the duration for small satellites, as well as the payload capacity.
“ESA has recommended to finance the Uvireso project for testing the Hall Electric Thruster with bismuth, and in 2026, we made a benchmark simulation of the Digital Twin of the Thruster in the European High Power Computing environment. Results are encouraging, there would be great benefits in the future,” says Uvireso CEO Jonas Klimantas.
Klimantas sees the space industry as vital to the future of Lithuania, and he hopes the nation will expand its presence in the global space sector in the future.
“Lithuania needs to become a full member of ESA, expand the budget for space innovation funding, and initiate National programs to benefit from yet untapped creativity,” Klimantas says.
Powering up
To power the propulsion, as well as the other electronics and systems onboard, most satellites rely on solar panels. It’s an essential part of satellite navigation, and a Lithuanian solar and battery company called Solitek is drawing on its long-standing photovoltaic manufacturing expertise to adapt silicon solar cells for space applications.
Solitek’s main business is building solar power for terrestrial applications, including homes and businesses. The company integrates energy generation and storage systems into everything from roofing and carports to facades and sound barriers. Now, Solitek is looking to expand into the space sector.
“Since our team has many years of experience in manufacturing and developing solar cell and module technologies, as well as their production processes, we are currently running the ORBIC (ORBit Integrated Cells) project using our start-up company UAB ‘SCM Solutions’,” says Julius Denafas, Solitek’s head of research and development. “With ORBIC, we aim to transfer the expertise we have built “on the ground” and apply silicon solar cells within the space industry.”
Innovation Agency Lithuania awarded ORBIC with first place for the 2025 space pre-incubation programme. Now the company is looking for additional funding, so it can continue to develop the solar cell technology in 2026.
“Lithuanians are newcomers to the space sector,” Denafas says. “But from what we have already seen, Lithuanian scientists, startups, and companies are offering excellent solutions and products: satellite manufacturing, software, laser technologies, and even food for astronauts.”
