Design of Hyperspectral Imaging Sensor for Small Satellite in LEO

Abstract

Military applications such as reconnaissance, surveillance and detection of camouflaged targets require imaging payloads with state-of-the-art sensors in spectral wavebands covering visible NIR (VNIR), SWIR, and thermal IR (MWIR and LWIR) region. Hyperspectral imaging sensor is one of them. This type of sensor acquires both the spatial and spectral signatures of the scene simultaneously. These sensors can be designed using variable filter, prism, grating, or interferometric means. This paper presents the design of a hyperspectral imaging camera (HSIC) for the VNIR (450–900 nm) and SWIR (900–2500 nm) wavebands using linear variable filter (LVF). This camera has advanced features such as high spatial resolution (12 m at 500 km) and high spectral resolution (10–20 nm) and can be used for military applications from small satellites operating in LEO.