3U CubeSat-Based Hyperspectral Remote Sensing by Offner Imaging Hyperspectrometer with Radially-Fastened Primary...

Area of Science:

• Earth Observation
• Remote Sensing
• Astrophysics

Background:

• Hyperspectral imaging is crucial for Earth observation.
• CubeSats offer a cost-effective platform for space missions.
• Previous hyperspectral missions faced limitations in compactness and spectral range.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present findings from a spaceborne Earth observation experiment using a novel hyperspectral camera on a 3U CubeSat.
• To evaluate the performance and suitability of the compact hyperspectrometer for remote sensing applications.
• To demonstrate the CubeSat's capability in generating vegetation indices and unique spectral data.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an ultra-compact hyperspectral imaging camera with an Offner optical scheme aboard a 3U CubeSat.
• Captured hyperspectral images with 200 m spatial and 12 nm spectral resolution (400-1000 nm).
• Conducted numerical simulations for performance evaluation and analyzed a year of orbital data.
• Compared results with European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 L2A data.

Main Results:

• The 3U CubeSat successfully acquired hyperspectral data over a year.
• Generated various vegetation indices, including the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI).
• Demonstrated strong agreement with Sentinel-2 L2A data, validating the system's performance.
• Produced unique index images beyond Sentinel-2 L2A capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The novel hyperspectral imaging camera on the 3U CubeSat is suitable for Earth observation in the visible and near-infrared spectrums.
• The compact design and performance confirm its potential for advancing remote sensing applications.
• The system's ability to generate unique spectral data offers new possibilities for scientific research.