Headwall Sensor Deployed on Satellite Detecting Greenhouse Gas

Spectrometer manufacturer Headwall Photonics Inc.’s Micro-Hyperspec imaging sensor has been deployed on Claire, a small, low-Earth-orbit satellite produced and launched by GHGSat Inc., a global emissions monitoring project.

At an altitude of 512 km in a sun-synchronous polar orbit, the satellite collects high-resolution image data that targets greenhouse gas and air quality gas emissions at industrial sites around the globe. With a robust sensor design focused on performance in harsh environments, the Micro-Hyperspec operates at the visible-NIR range of 400 to 1000 nm with high spectral and spatial resolution. Site owners can monitor emissions themselves by accessing GHGSat data.

“Small, commercial satellites such as GHGSat represent an important remote sensing tool for researchers,” said David Bannon, CEO of Headwall. “Breaking from the traditional high-cost, high-risk space development, Headwall’s performance and affordability are unmatched for these small-sat programs, and we’re very proud to be aboard GHGSat’s Claire satellite.”

Fundamental to all Headwall solutions is a patented sensor design that maximizes spectral and spatial resolution and signal throughput while minimizing image aberrations across a wide field of view. The Micro-Hyperspec sensor is small and light enough so that it can be one of several instruments on a nanosatellite.

Headwall Photonics is a designer and manufacturer of hyperspectral imaging spectrometers and spectral instrumentation for remote sensing, advanced machine vision, medical and defense applications.

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Published: March 2017

Glossary

hyperspectral imaging: Hyperspectral imaging is an advanced imaging technique that captures and processes information from across the electromagnetic spectrum. Unlike traditional imaging systems that record only a few spectral bands (such as red, green, and blue in visible light), hyperspectral imaging collects data in numerous contiguous bands, covering a wide range of wavelengths. This extended spectral coverage enables detailed analysis and characterization of materials based on their spectral signatures. Key...
machine vision: Machine vision, also known as computer vision or computer sight, refers to the technology that enables machines, typically computers, to interpret and understand visual information from the world, much like the human visual system. It involves the development and application of algorithms and systems that allow machines to acquire, process, analyze, and make decisions based on visual data. Key aspects of machine vision include: Image acquisition: Machine vision systems use various...

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