On-orbit demonstration of a linear variable band-pass filter-based miniaturized hyperspectral camera for CubeSats

Hyperspectral cameras are useful Earth observation sensors with many practical applications in agriculture and forest remote sensing for detecting and classifying the state of objects. Recently, CubeSats satellites were launched into low Earth orbits. These satellites have certain advantages, such as low cost and short-term development, and their practical applications are continuously increasing. The installation of a hyperspectral camera on CubeSats would significantly increase their observation frequency. However, to fit on a CubeSat, observation instruments must be compact and weigh only a few hundred grams. To address this challenge, we developed a 35-g miniaturized hyperspectral camera by combining a linear variable band-pass filter and an image sensor. This innovative camera was installed on two CubeSats and launched into orbit in 2023 and 2024. The on-orbit experiments conducted using these CubeSats were successful, and valuable hyperspectral data were obtained. © The Authors.