Satellite and Samara Korolev University: Nanosatellite with hyperspectral "vision"

Main article: Space satellites of countries of the world

2024: Creation of a nanosatellite with hyperspectral "vision"

SPUTPS and Samara University named after Korolev created a nanosatellite in Russia with hyperspectral "vision." Sitronics announced this on July 12, 2024.

A spacecraft for remote sensing of the Earth with a hyperspectrometer with a spatial resolution of seven meters per pixel will allow you to see what cannot be detected using conventional optics. The satellite is planned to be launched into orbit at the end of 2024.

It will involve a 6-unit spacecraft based on the nanosatellite platform of its own design by SPUTPS engineers, and an improved version of a compact hyperspectrometer developed and manufactured by Samara scientists. The device has an extremely high resolution for this class - only 7 meters per pixel. This exceeds the indicators of both Russian and foreign large spacecraft of hyperspectral monitoring of the Earth.

Scientists at our university have developed and assembled a compact hyperspectrometer with a high spatial resolution - only 7 meters per pixel. This can rightfully be called a record indicator for such a compact device and this is about ten times higher than the same indicator of the first domestic hyperspectrometer for cubsats. Even in many large satellites weighing hundreds or thousands of kilograms, the amount of spatial resolution of hyperspectral equipment and, accordingly, the volume and quality of transmitted hyperspectral data are sometimes several times worse than that of this "baby." If we talk about nanosatellites equipped with a hyperspectrometer, then there have not yet been devices with similar or better hyperspectral "vision" in Russia, "said Roman Skidanov, professor of the Department of Technical Cybernetics at Samara University. Korolev, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

The device of Samara scientists is equipped with a powerful long-focus lens of domestic production and is designed to work in the visible and near infrared range - VNIR-range from 400 to 1000 nm. The number of spectral channels is from 150 to 300. In Russia, this is the first nanosatellite with such acute hyperspectral "vision." The device passed bench tests in the SPUTPS laboratory and is ready to work in orbit.

We are interested in this project not only in terms of supporting the development of aerospace education, but also in the prospect of creating a spacecraft with a new hyperspectral camera system. New in the global sense, since so far not a single such hypersensitive system has been tested in integration with cubsat in orbit, "said Vladislav Ivanenko, General Director of SPUTPS.

The implementation of the project may open up new opportunities for the development of satellite services in order to solve the problems of the national economy and the country's economy by obtaining more accurate data on objects on the surface of the Earth. Hyperspectral "vision" will make it possible to effectively conduct environmental monitoring, monitor the state of forests and agricultural crops, identify characteristics and properties invisible to humans, "said Sergei Tkachenko, board member, executive vice president of Sitronics Group.

In particular, satellite data will help calculate growing indices for solving smart farming problems, various plant parameters and properties necessary for agricultural producers to properly care for crops, and determine areas of winter crops with the highest green mass. Vegetation indices are calculated from spectral data and show a wide variety of plant parameters and properties. Depending on their condition, the amount of vitamins and moisture, the temperature of the environment and other factors, plants absorb and reflect electromagnetic waves in different ranges, in different spectra.

By comparing these data in a single complex using hyperspectral survey, it is possible to remotely, promptly and more accurately assess the state of crops of a particular crop, without sending individual plants or soil samples for laboratory analysis. From hyperspectral data, it is possible, for example, to determine the areas of winter crops with the highest green mass, with a high amount of chlorophyll, to find out the level of moisture reserves in plants and predict future yields.

The hyperspectrometer also helps to assess the physiological state of plants in terms of the presence of stress in them. As you know, stress also occurs in plants, it is caused by adverse phenomena - drought or excess moisture, strong winds, temperature changes, sudden frosts, invasion of pest insects. Due to stress, metabolic changes occur in plants, with the help of a hyperspectrometer these changes can be detected from space.

The project is being implemented with the support of the Innovation Assistance Fund within the framework of the federal educational program Space-Pi ("Planet Duty").