Sawa mission patch

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Sawa mission is its second space weather nanosatellite mission. Sawa will primarily watch the thermosphere in situ from Earth orbit, observing how space weather causes the atmospheric layer to warm up and expand, pushing satellites off course.

Sawa’s name is derived from an origin myth about the founding and etymology of the city of Warsaw, the capital of Poland. According to legend, Sawa was a mermaid living in the Vistula River, falling in love with a fisherman named Wars, together making Warsaw. She became the city’s guardian, and for generations, the mermaid Sawa has symbolised protection, vigilance and resilience.

The name Sawa is therefore fitting for this mission that will contribute to protecting our planet and critical infrastructure from space weather events.

The mission has the Polish company Creotech as its prime contractor, inspiring the local nature of its name. On 12 October 2026, Sawa’s brand new mission patch was therefore revealed in the most fitting of places: Warsaw.