Cassegrain Camera Enables High Resolution Satellite Mapping

Optical Surfaces Ltd has announced that it has supplied, to Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), a Cassegrain Camera 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 high performance Cassegrain Camera supplied by Optical Surfaces Ltd will enable the satellite to undertake remote Earth observation tasks with a resolution of just 2.5 metres. NigeriaSat-2 will weigh about 300 kilograms at launch and carry two imagers: a 2.5m resolution panchromatic and a 5m resolution multispectral with a a swath width of 20 kilometres. 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.

Using proprietary production techniques, Optical Surfaces' produced the 385mm light-weighted 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. Optical Surfaces Ltd applied several optical test systems for testing and integration of the Cassegrain camera into NigeriaSat-2.

More information: http://www.optisurf.com