Small Satellite Electro-Optical System (EOS) Technological and Commercial Expansion

Abstract

The use of electro-optical imaging system for commercial, military, or surveillance missions, as well as space scientific missions, dates back to the first successful operation aboard the US Explorer-6 spacecraft, which was the first spacecraft to capture low-resolution images of the Earth's surface, and the Luna-3 space probe, which was the first spacecraft to send images of the lunar far side, in 1959. The technology underlying EO system have evolved over time, with advances in optics, electronics, and materials science leading to the development of more sophisticated and capable imaging sensors. Furthermore, the technological advances in sensors, optics, mechanics, material, signal and image processing algorithms have allowed EO payloads to become smaller, lighter, and more efficient while still providing high-quality imagery. Over 840 small spacecraft weighing less than 500 kg were launched, with 80% in the constellation segment and 20% as monolithic satellites (i.e., single spacecraft equipped with an electro-optical imaging instrument launched into space for various missions). In this paper, the electro-optical imaging systems of these spacecraft were reviewed using data from a variety of sources, including peer-reviewed journal publications, conference proceedings, mission webpages, and other publicly available satellite databases. Furthermore, the technological and commercial expansion of small spacecraft (<500 kg) equipped with electro-optical imaging systems, as well as EO-COTS parametric performance values such as GSD, spectral range, field of view, and sensor type, are discussed through 2023, divided by spacecraft type: SSO satellites, Small spacecraft constellation, Deep space spacecraft, and EO commercialization.