HySpex for microsatellites
Norsk Elektro Optikk AS (NEO), a leading payload provider of high-performance hyperspectral imaging systems, has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to complete the design and manufacturing of HyperNOR S-1280, the first spaceborne instrument in the HySpex HyperNOR family. The next-generation in-orbit hyperspectral demonstrator is designed to unlock the full potential of extended Short-Wave Infrared (eSWIR, 950–2500 nm) imaging from space.
The HyperNOR S -1280 instrument is being realised under ESAs General Support Technology Programme (GSTP), with support from the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA). The contract enables a complete payload development pathway—from Qualification Model (QM) to Flight Model (FM), culminating in launch as an In-Orbit Demonstrator (IOD) in the first half of 2028. By combining qualification, flight readiness, and in-orbit validation within a single framework, GSTP accelerates the transition of HySpex’s proven hyperspectral sensor technology from airborne and laboratory domains into space, while reducing risk and establishing a robust foundation for future operational missions and constellations.
HyperNOR S-1280 represents a significant advancement in hyperspectral Earth observation. As an ESA-supported GSTP/IOD mission, it is designed to close the commercial eSWIR gap in space-based imaging, enabling a new generation of high-impact applications for downstream providers.
“The HyperNOR S-1280 represents a critical step forward in bringing high-quality, calibration-grade hyperspectral data into space,” says Lars O. Lierstuen, Head of Space & Business Development at NEO. “By combining high spatial resolution with robust eSWIR coverage, we are enabling continuity from lab to orbit and paving the way for next-generation hyperspectral constellations.”
Small satellites are i.a. characterized by providing fast and economical access to space, making remote sensing data available for a broader range of communities. Due to their small size, several micro-satellites can be launched at the same time, and constellations of microsatellites are feasible due to their low cost. The temporal resolution and ground coverage achievable through a constellation of small satellites cannot be matched by a single, large, satellite.
The Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) of existing and planned satellite Hyperspectral Imagers (HSIs) is rarely less than 30 meters in the SWIR range (1000 to 2500 nm) and rarely less than 10 meters in the VNIR range (400 to 1000 nm). NEO concluded that the GSD appears as a weak point limiting the usefulness of existing, institutional, instruments. The conclusion was made after interviewing existing HySpex customers, and what NEO regards being the participant sentiment at the PRISMA workshop (April 2021). Additionally, these huge instruments require equally large satellite platforms, which again drives the cost significantly.
With co-funding from the Norwegian Space Agency in 2020 and 2021, NEO made a preliminary design for a SWIR HySpex hyperspectral imager suitable for a microsatellite.
Having high spatial resolution as a major goal for HySpex’ HSI satellite design, unavoidably leads to an instrument with a narrow swath. These conflicting design parameters may determine the usefulness of the instrument for different applications. NEO focused on the GSD spec, since an unsatisfactory swath width can be compensated by using a satellite constellation, whereas GSD, once designed, cannot be changed. Also, existing HySpex customers have explicitly stated that they would prefer having a smaller GSD over a wider swath.
Creating a high-performance, small platform compatible, HSI is challenging. Achieving useful spatial resolution in combination with acceptable signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) is particularly difficult. One of the goals of the development was to devise an HSI that surpasses the common limitations introduced by small satellite platforms and, in some respects, provides hyperspectral data that are better than what is currently available for free from larger instruments.
NEO is currently working on funding the qualification of the instrument.
