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Samara University scientists have developed two compact hyperspectrometers that will significantly expand the capabilities of domestic nanosatellites. Equipped with these instruments, the CubeSat miniaturized spacecraft will be better at ecological monitoring and smart farming, detecting greenhouse gas emissions and exploring inaccessible areas to locate potential deposits of various minerals, oil and gas. This project received financial support as part of the Planet Watch federal educational program.
“The University has developed two compact hyperspectrometers for CubeSats, unprecedented in Russia for this type of nanosatellites, whereas in the world just a few counterparts have been created and launched into space. The designs for our hyperspectrometers are already complete, fabrication work is underway and assembly should be completed by about mid-summer, after which tests will begin. The devices are scheduled to be launched into orbit in December 2023 as part of the Space-Pi science-and-education project on board two nanosatellites manufactured by Sputnix and Geoscan, Russia,” said Roman Skidanov, professor at the Department of Engineering Cybernetics at Samara University, Doctor in physical and mathematical science.
According to the scientist, both hyperspectrometers are based on Offner scheme. One will shoot in the short-wave infrared range, the so-called SWIR range from 900 to 1700 nm. The device will be installed in a three-unit CubeSat (3U, that is, made up of three 10x10x10 cm “cubes”) manufactured by Geoscan. The spacecraft’s two cubes will accommodate the hyperspectrometer, while the third cube will contain the equipment for satellite control and communication with the Earth. Hyperspectral imagery will have a resolution of about 60–70 meters per pixel, which, given the nanosatellite’s very compact size and inability to accommodate a large lens, is in line with world analogues.
“By using a SWIR range hyperspectrometer, nanosatellites will be able to effectively detect greenhouse gases by capturing methane and CO2 emissions. This range can also be used to explore hard-to-reach geological areas by identifying from space the spectral signatures of various minerals, including those that are associated with oil and natural gas deposits,” said Roman Skidanov.
Monitoring methane emissions is also important for future Arctic development – such emissions can be associated with the areas of permafrost thawing and thinning. Permafrost layer thinning can threaten not only the functioning of cities and towns built in Arctic areas, but also the climate of the planet as a whole. Scientists believe that permafrost and sedimentary rock may hide vast reserves of special minerals – gas hydrates, which under certain conditions decompose into water and gas, primarily methane. If due to permafrost thinning, too much methane enters the atmosphere, the planet could face a climate disaster with global droughts, fires and rising sea levels.
The second hyperspectrometer developed by Samara scientists will be used for ecological monitoring. It is designed to operate in the visible and near-infrared range (the so-called VNIR range, from 400 to 1000 nm) and is an improved version of the first domestic hyperspectrometer for CubeSats, created earlier at Samara University and launched into space in August 2022.
The instrument will be housed on board a six-unit CubeSat consisting of six 10x10x10 cm cubes. The increased usable space can accommodate the hyperspectrometer with a more powerful lens. As a result, the resolution of the improved instrument will be about ten times higher than that of the first domestic hyperspectrometer for CubeSats. The new hyperspectrometer will be able to track the occurrence of forest fires, monitor forests and agricultural crops, including calculating vegetation indices and identifying plant stress from space and perform other tasks better and more accurately.
In addition to its scientific and practical value, the operation of compact hyperspectrometers in space should also prove the possibility of extensive installation of such equipment in the future, making hyperspectral Earth remote sensing systems cheaper and more affordable. Low-budget nanosatellites with compact hyperspectrometers can become the basis for large-scale orbital constellations made of hundreds of such spacecraft, to enable Earth monitoring in next-to-real-time mode to quickly obtain hyperspectral information of the necessary part of the Earth surface, without waiting for the large Earth remote sensing satellite to reach the desired location.
At the same time, the project is of great importance in terms of promoting astronautics and space technology among the younger generation. Based on the data that the Samara hyperspectrometers will transmit from orbit, scientists at Samara University will educate teams of Russian schoolchildren on the basics of analyzing and processing hyperspectral images. There are plans to develop a multi-year science-and-education program for schoolchildren, including various space experiments using compact hyperspectrometers. The schoolchildren are expected not only to be able to attend the nanosatellite pre-launch test, but also to witness the take-off of a launch vehicle from the cosmodrome.
Commentary:
Sergey Goryainov, Head of the Department for Target Audience Engagement and Support at Samara University:
“Samara University was closely involved in the creation and establishment of the All-Russian Space-Pi science-and-education project, which is part of the Planet Watch, an agglomeration of competitions by the Foundation for Assistance to Innovations. University Sputnik contest finalists have been participating in these programs for four years. Soon the schoolchildren’s dream will come true and the University will have a CubeSat constellation, with optics developed by our scientists, to take images from space.
We have a lot of project work ahead with schoolchildren aimed at promoting astronautics, satellite engineering and geoinformation technology.
For reference
Samara University is a participant in the Science and Universities national project.
* Planet Watch is a program combining technology competitions and space-related projects for schoolchildren. The program aims at raising awareness of space research and development among Russia’s general youth and schoolchildren. The program is organized by the Foundation for the Assistance to Innovations, the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Roscosmos State Corporation and STI Club Movement.
* Space-Pi (Space π) is an All-Russian science-and-education project for the development and production of small CubeSat-format spacecraft on domestic satellite platforms, aimed at forming a constellation of about 100 3U CubeSats in orbit for several years, to create the infrastructure for involving schoolchildren in research and technical creativity in the field of space technologies.
** Samara University is one of the world leaders in photonics. More than 40 years ago, the School of Computer Optics and Image Processing was established and has been successfully operating at the University, headed by Viktor Soyfer, Academician of the RAS and the President of Samara University. The University scientists have developed innovative diffraction optics, which has found its application in a variety of fields, such as outer space, medicine, agriculture.
Research in the field of diffraction optical elements made it possible for the scientists of Samara University to create compact hyperspectral devices for applying them in smart agriculture. Mobile agricultural ameliorative complexes are able to independently analyze the soil condition, and regulate the intensity of irrigation and fertilization, which can increase crop yields by 25–30 % in average.
