Camera enables high-res satellite mapping

Edited by the Laboratorytalk editorial team Apr 6, 2009

Optical Surfaces has supplied a Cassegrain camera to Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) that will be a key component of the satellite platform being prepared for the Nigeriasat-2 programme.

Due for launch in early 2010, Nigeriasat-2 is being built by SSTL for the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) of Nigeria.

The Cassegrain camera supplied by Optical Surfaces will enable the satellite to undertake remote Earth observation tasks with a resolution of just 2.5m.

Nigeriasat-2 will weigh about 300kg at launch and carry two imagers: a 2.5m resolution panchromatic and a 5m resolution multi-spectral with a a swath width of 20km.

This space asset will provide Nigeria with valuable geographically referenced high-resolution satellite imaging for applications in mapping, water resources management, agricultural land use, population estimation, health-hazard monitoring and disaster mitigation and management.

Optical Surfaces produced the 385mm lightweight primary mirror, and other optics in the Cassegrain camera, with a surface accuracy of lambda/20 p-v to enable the high resolution required by SSTL.

The company applied several optical test systems for testing and integration of the Cassegrain camera into Nigeriasat-2.