SpaceForest, a Polish technology company based in Gdynia, has signed a contract with the Atlantic Spaceport Consortium (ASC) – a consortium developing a spaceport on Santa Maria Island in the Azores – to carry out an international suborbital flight of the PERUN rocket. The launch from land on the Azores is planned for the first half of 2026. The mission at the Portuguese spaceport will be supported by the European Space Agency and the Portuguese Space Agency.

PERUN Rocket Flight — first half of 2026

The launch planned for early 2026 will allow for comprehensive testing of launch procedures and confirmation of the capabilities and compliance of the Polish platform for conducting space experiments and research outside Poland, fully aligned with international standards. The mission will also serve as an opportunity to verify the operation of the PERUN suborbital flight system under nominal mission parameters.

This upcoming launch represents another significant step in the development of Polish rocket technologies, opening new possibilities for further innovation and strengthening Poland’s position on the global map of countries with economical access to space.

The flight from the Azores will also provide a chance to conduct scientific research under microgravity conditions, a key commercial objective of the project. The rocket’s payload section will carry 50 kg of experimental equipment prepared by business partners, universities and research institutes.

Space Mission Objectives:

Launch window: first half of 2026
Location: Atlantic Spaceport Consortium – Spaceport (Santa Maria, Azores, Portugal)

Mission Goals:

Verification: of PERUN system compliance with international launch procedures
Confirmation: of rocket operation under nominal mission conditions
Conducting: experiments in microgravity and spaceflight conditions
Demonstration: of launch from land and recovery of rocket and payload from the ocean

Invitation to Collaborate

SpaceForest invites scientific institutions, research teams, and technology companies to collaborate on this and future space missions. PERUN rocket launch is a unique opportunity to carry out scientific experiments and test innovative technologies in true spaceflight conditions.

If interested, please contact us to discuss integration possibilities for your experiment on upcoming missions:

Join the Space Mission

Atlantic Spaceport Consortium – Europe’s Open Gateway to Space

Atlantic Spaceport Consortium is a Portuguese consortium established in 2020, dedicated to building an innovative, environmentally friendly, and safe spaceport on Santa Maria Island in the Azores archipelago.

ASC aims to create an open, flexible launch infrastructure accessible to international operators conducting suborbital and orbital missions in Europe.

Under the contract, ASC will support SpaceForest in obtaining necessary regulatory permits and launch licenses and provide operational support on-site, including recovery of the rocket and payload from the ocean.

Close-up view of the rocket launch pad at the Atlantic Spaceport Consortium on Santa Maria Island, Azores. — Detailed view of the rocket launch pad at the Atlantic Spaceport Consortium, prepared for upcoming suborbital missions.

About SpaceForest

SpaceForest is a private company from Gdynia, fully Polish-owned, developing advanced technologies since 2004, including space technologies. The company specializes in radar, microwave and rocket systems and designs advanced electronic devices competing globally and already used in satellites.

One of the company’s key projects is the PERUN rocket – a fully in-house developed, reusable suborbital system designed for conducting research, experiments, and component testing in microgravity conditions. The project is supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Polish Space Agency (POLSA).