Spaceline Labs launches Panthera For Its Advanced Stratospheric Earth Observation Platform

Flying at altitudes of 18–50 km, Panthera provides real-time, high-resolution imagery at 10 cm/px, a major improvement over traditional satellites that capture images only every few hours.

“This launch demonstrates a great step forward in our strategic and technical roadmap,” said Nicolai Iversen, co-founder and CEO of Spaceline Labs. “We’re now proceeding from demonstration to large-scale coverage across Europe.”

Building a system to operate reliably in the harsh conditions of near-space presented significant challenges. “The key technical challenge was designing an advanced imaging payload and a communications system that could deliver persistent 10 cm/px imagery in real time, without relying on foreign infrastructure,” Iversen added.

To achieve this, Spaceline built its own dedicated data link, allowing all European-generated data to be stored, analysed, and shared entirely within Europe. The platform was also designed to withstand extreme near-space conditions, with its systems tested in places like the ESA Mars Simulation Laboratory in Denmark.

Read Also - London-based Archestra Secures €2.8 Million In Pre-Seed Round

The launch required careful coordination with authorities such as the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority and Avinor because of Panthera’s altitude and size.

Panthera is already providing data to customers, which is combined with satellite imagery and AI analytics to offer useful insights in areas like maritime monitoring, environmental tracking, and disaster response.

“Almost symbolically, Panthera launched just a few hundred metres from where Isar Aerospace launched Spectrum earlier this year,” said Pedersen. “It highlights how fast the European near-space sector is moving.”

Spaceline Labs is expanding its operations with a new 1,000 sq. m production and headquarters facility at Hans Christian Andersen Airport in Odense, Denmark, set to open in early 2026.

Founded by Nicolai Iversen (CEO), Simon Vilms Pedersen (CTO), and Mads Toudal Frandsen (COO), the company partners with Airbus Space & Defence, Andøya Space, and is part of ESA’s Civil Security from Space programme.

The Panthera system, Spaceline’s third-generation platform, positions the startup as a leading European provider of stratospheric intelligence infrastructure.

About Spaceline

Spaceline Labs is transforming Earth observation with stratospheric satellites that deliver high-resolution, continuous data. Combining exceptional quality, wide coverage, and extended mission duration, their platform ensures remote sensing without compromise providing reliable, real-time insights for Earth monitoring anytime, anywhere.