Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Center has selected Colorado-based Surrey Satellite Technology US (SST-US) to study lighter alternatives to the two sensors currently deployed on Landsat 8, an American Earth observation satellite launched in February 2013.
As part of the Sustainable Land Imaging (SLI) Reduced Instrument Envelope Study, the SST-US will evaluate new technologies for imaging sensors that could be used on the Landsat 10 and other future programmes.
Landsat 8 features two imaging instruments, including the electro-optical operational land imager and thermal infrared sensor.
NASA’s SLI Office is working on a constellation of satellites that are claimed to be more economical compared to Landsat 8, while maintaining data continuity.
The SLI Office plans to use two reflective imaging and thermal-infrared instruments on the future Landsat satellites.
For the study, SST-US and Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) have partnered to identify the possibility of combining Surrey electro-optical imager designs with SDL’s thermal imaging instrument.
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By GlobalDataAs an alternative to one integrated sensor, SST-US and SDL will design two co-registered sensors based on the existing Landsat 8 configuration with reduced weight, mass, and power specifications.
SST-US COO Doug Gerull said: "SST-US will leverage the Surrey legacy of success building innovative satellite systems to meet the demanding technical and economic specifications that NASA has in mind for future Landsat programmes.
"Of the six companies chosen as prime contractors by Nasa to perform the SLI Reduced Envelope Study, we are pleased to be able to offer up our significant small satellite experience."
Image: Landsat 8 features two imaging instruments, including the electro-optical operational land imager and thermal infrared sensor. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.
