Spinworks > AEROS Constellation – Hyperspectral Camera

AEROS Constellation - Hyperspectral Camera

The main goal of the AEROS Constellation is to develop, build, launch and demonstrate in orbit a prototype for an Earth Observation constellation.

Summary

PROJECT DESIGNATION
AEROS Constellation
PROJECT CODE
POCI-01-0247-FEDER-45911
MAIN OBJECTIVE
Development, Construction, Launch and In-Orbit Validation of an Earth Observation Constellation prototype.
INTERVENTION REGION
Norte, Lisboa and Algarve
BENEFICIARIES ENTITIES
EDISOFT, CEIIA, SPIN.WORKS S.A., DSTELECOM S.A., UNIVERSIDADE DO MINHO, UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO, UNIVERSIDADE DO ALGARVE, INSTITUTO SUPERIOR TÉCNICO, +ATLANTIC
APPROVAL DATE
01-10-2020
BEGIN DATE
01-07-2020
CONCLUSION DATE
30-06-2023
TOTAL COST
2.786.748,71 EUR (Project), 432.236,08 EUR (Spin.Works)
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM EU
FEDER – 1.884.426,49 EUR (Projeto), 323.340,59 EUR (Spin.Works)

Activities

  1. Use Case and Mission Definition
  2. Satellite Platform: Onboard Hardware
  3. Satellite Platform: Onboard Software
  4. Satellite Payload
  5. Ground Segment and AITL
  6. Integrated System Operations and Data Management
  7. Project Management and Dissemination

One of the most valuable global resources we have to protect is the oceans. The oceans play a prominent role in the Earth’s ecosystem, covering almost the entire surface of the Earth, containing millions of plants and animals, influencing the global climate and producing around 70% of the oxygen we breathe. The oceans are, therefore, essential for technological, scientific, economic and social development, allowing exploration and trade for hundreds of years.

With Portugal taking a more assertive steps with regard to space activities, the Consortium seeks to develop new space technologies and seize new opportunities to explore, monitor and value the Oceans in a sustainable way, aligned both with the “Atlantic Interactions” research agenda and with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

AEROS is an integrated system of resources and capabilities, including different existing operational platforms to be improved and developed in the Oceans and Space, equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and technologies, all linked through a data collection, processing and dissemination system. AEROS combines private companies such as Edisoft, Spin.Works and DST, universities, UMinho, FCUP, UAlgarve, IST and IMAR, and research and interface institutions, including CEiiA and +Atlantic. To accelerate the innovation and industrial development and internationalization that AEROS aims to achieve, national entities formed partnerships with researchers from different areas within MIT.

OBJECTIVES

The goals to be achieved with the execution of the AEROS project are:

  • Development of two instruments: 1) a reflectometry sensor to measure the roughness and height of the sea surface and 2) an optical spectrometer to measure the color of the ocean and locate sea fronts and fauna;
  • Advancement in knowledge and development of capabilities within the European community, promotion of public dissemination and increased attention to the space industry and the benefits it brings to society;
  • Development of software-defined radios (SDR) compatible with other nano-satellites and in-situ sensors such as those used in autonomous vehicles and in bio-logging technology for sharks and mantas;
  • Development of a nano-satellite platform capable of carrying maritime observation instruments;
  • Leveraging the use of open-source software for nano-satellites towards the development of interfaces with maritime observation payload;
  • Development of algorithms for the operation of missions and data processing using Big Data schemes useful to different stakeholders associated with environmental protection, trade and tourism.

Spin.Works Contributions

Spin.Works’ tasks are focused on the definition, conceptual design, detailed design, development, testing and qualification for space of a miniaturized hyperspectral camera for Earth observation (Activity 4.1 of the AEROS project).
Although the camera’s electronics are expected to be similar in some aspects to the INFANTE nano-satellite’s multispectral camera, given the use of image sensors from the same family, profound changes are required in the camera’s hardware and software, including camera configuration, structure and optics, and image processing software. The development sequence was as follows:
 
  1. Requirements Analysis
  2. Conceptual project
  3. Detailed project
  4. Assembly, Integration and Testing
  5. Space Qualification
Below we present the main characteristics of the proposed hyperspectral camera. 
Cofinanciado por

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