LeopardISS – the AI experiment in Poland's IGNIS mission – has arrived at the International Space Station

23 April 2025

On April 22, 2025, at 2:20 p.m. CEST, the Dragon cargo capsule from SpaceX's CRS-32 resupply mission successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS). Among the delivered payloads was LeopardISS, a data processing unit developed by the Polish space company KP Labs. In just over a month, once Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski arrives at the ISS, the device will begin executing its artificial intelligence (AI) experiment as part of IGNIS — Poland's first national science and research mission to the ISS.

LeopardISS is a space-qualified data processing unit (DPU) designed for the onboard execution of AI and machine learning algorithms. Developed entirely by engineers at KP Labs in Gliwice, Poland, the unit was built for flexible, software-driven space experimentation. It will be installed in the ICE Cubes facility within ESA's Columbus module on the ISS, where it will be operated remotely from Earth. ICE Cubes provide access to power, data infrastructure, and continuous communication, enabling repeatable and long-duration in-orbit testing.

The first task assigned to LeopardISS will be validating 3D terrain mapping algorithms developed by the Poznan University of Technology. These algorithms were designed to support future planetary exploration missions by enabling autonomous navigation for lunar or Martian rovers. By using real orbital data and performing processing directly onboard the ISS, the experiment aims to evaluate how well such software performs regarding reliability, processing time, and resource efficiency in microgravity.

LeopardISS is one of 13 scientific and technology experiments selected for IGNIS, the first Polish initiative to provide access to the ISS's infrastructure for national R&D projects. The mission is led by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology and the Polish Space Agency (POLSA), in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA).

According to the current flight schedule, the key phase of the IGNIS mission is set for late May to early June 2025, when Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski — only the second Polish citizen in history to travel to space — will arrive at the ISS. During his approximately two-week stay onboard the station, he will support the execution of several scientific and educational experiments, including the LeopardISS mission.

The development of LeopardISS builds on KP Labs' previous experience from the Intuition-1 mission, where AI-based onboard data processing was demonstrated in orbit. The new platform was engineered for greater modularity and reusability, enabling the iterative validation of AI models for applications such as image classification, change detection, and real-time onboard data compression and encryption. With this approach, institutions and companies can gain valuable flight heritage without launching dedicated satellites.

More information about LeopardISS is available at: https://kplabs.space

Learn more about the IGNIS mission: https://polsa.gov.pl/wydarzenia/ignis/

Media Contact:
Julia Wrazidło
+48 530 523 011
jwrazidlo@kplabs.pl

About KP Labs
Founded in 2016, KP Labs is a Polish space technology company advancing space exploration through the development of autonomous mission operations and onboard data processing systems. The company offers end-to-end solutions, including integrated hardware platforms, proprietary software, and advanced AI algorithms for Earth observation and planetary missions. KP Labs is involved in seven space missions and has delivered over 25 R&D projects for the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA, and commercial clients. With a team of around 80 engineers and researchers, the company holds the status of an official R&D Center granted by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. In November 2024, KP Labs received the President of Poland's Award in the "SME Leader" category. Learn more at: https://kplabs.space