HyperScout : an in-orbit demonstration of a miniaturised hyperspectral instrument with onboard high-level data processing

Paper number

IAC-18,B4,4,7,x48533

Author

Dr. Chris van Dijk, The Netherlands, Cosine Research BV

Coauthor

Dr. Marco Esposito, The Netherlands, Cosine Research BV

Coauthor

Mr. Simon Silvio Conticello, The Netherlands, Cosine Research BV

Coauthor

Dr. Pierluigi Foglia Manzillo, The Netherlands, Cosine Research BV

Coauthor

Mr. Nathan Vercruyssen, The Netherlands, Cosine Research BV

Coauthor

Mr. Rick Koeleman, The Netherlands, Cosine Research BV

Coauthor

Mr. Bavo Delauré, Belgium, VITO nv

Coauthor

Dr. Iskander Benhadj, Belgium, VITO nv

Coauthor

Dr. Joris Blommaert, Belgium, VITO nv

Coauthor

Dr. Stefan Livens, Belgium, VITO nv

Coauthor

Mr. Arnoud Jochemsen, Norway, Science [&] Technology AS

Coauthor

Mr. Michael Soukup, Norway, Science [&] Technology AS

Coauthor

Prof. Massimo Menenti, The Netherlands, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Coauthor

Dr. Ben Gorte, The Netherlands, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Coauthor

Mr. Enayat Hosseini Aria, The Netherlands, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Year

2018

Abstract

The first ever miniaturised hyperspectral instrument with onboard analytics was launched on the 2nd of February 2018 as part of a CubeSat mission contracted by the European Space Agency. The instrument named HyperScout operates in the VNIR with unprecedented low mass and volume. A compact fully reflective telescope design has been realised within a 1U CubeSat unit. The large field of view and the onboard intelligence deployed on a CubeSat platform enables a large variety of land and vegetation applications, for which cost efficiency and timeliness are of foremost importance.

A novel approach to the bandwidth limitation on small platforms is taken, namely that L2 data is processed onboard. This is particularly advantageous due to the large volume of raw hyperspectral data produced in each acquisition, which can be efficiently compressed in an application-specific manner into the required geophysical parameters. A heavily optimised L2 processing chain has been developed specifically for the available hardware. By providing L2 data on board, the system can be reconfigured in orbit to serve different applications.

The launch took place on the 2nd of February 2018. The aim of the demonstration mission was to assess the quality of the data acquired and the consequent suitability for the intended applications. Furthermore, the functionalities of the instrument as well as the onboard processing of L1 and L2 data in real time have been demonstrated.

The presentation will cover the first block of in-orbit operations, instrument performance and data collected.

Abstract document

IAC-18,B4,4,7,x48533.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-18,B4,4,7,x48533.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.