xix
Preface
Since the beginning of this millennium, spaceborne hyperspectral imaging has emerged as a new
generation of remote sensing satellites due to its expanded capability of acquiring hundreds of con-
tiguous and narrow spectral bands for each pixel in the scene. Such distinct spectral signatures or
“ngerprints” of the pixels can provide direct identication of the surface materials. Hyperspectral
imaging has a wide range of remote sensing applications in various disciplines including agri-
culture, forestry, environment, geology, ocean, atmosphere, climate change, defence and security,
and law enforcement. Fascinating detailed spectral information provided by hyperspectral imagery
often provides results not possible with multispectral or other types of imaging technologies.
For over 30 years, I have focused my work on the development of optical satellites. In the last
25 years, as a senior scientist with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in optical payloads, I have
been dedicating my efforts to the development of hyperspectral satellite technology and missions.
In particular, as the technical lead in multiple hyperspectral missions in Canada and in Canadian
joint ventures with international partners, including NASA, the US Naval Research Laboratory,
and the Italian Space Agency, I have been fortunate enough to collaborate with and draw upon
the knowledge of many highly qualied teams in the space industry and academia, during differ-
ent development phases of hyperspectral satellite missions. This experience has provided crucial
rsthand know-how and insight into the key aspects of hyperspectral satellite system design and
implementation.
While a number of books have been published on hyperspectral remote sensing and on the gen-
eral concepts of satellite design, I’m not aware of a book that specically addresses hyperspectral
satellites and their system design. With hyperspectral satellites still in their relative infancy and
likely to become more common in the next decade or so, a book on this topic certainly seems bene-
cial and timely for current and future professionals in this eld. Therefore, having written two books
on the subject of optical satellite signal processing (published by SPIE Press), authored chapters in
ve others, and edited a book on optical payloads for space missions (published by John Wiley &
Sons), I have now systematically selected and organized my rsthand knowledge and know-how on
hyperspectral satellite system design into this book.
This book consists of 14 chapters and is written in a way to be an ‘A to Z’ of all aspects of hyper-
spectral satellites and their designs. Chapters 1–3 provide background information on hyperspectral
imaging, including introduction to hyperspectral satellites, an overview of hyperspectral sensors on
orbit, and an overview of hyperspectral imaging applications in Earth observation. Chapters 4–12
form the main body of the book devoted to system design. These chapters start with a discussion on
the mission concept and trade-off study, then move on to subsystem design including optical sys-
tem and design, focal plane arrays, system performance modeling, thermal and mechanical design,
in-ight calibration, instrument control and onboard data handling, and nally provide informa-
tion on the ground segment, and on-ground calibration and characterization. The last two chapters
(Chapters 13 and 14) are about data processing on ground, including radiometric conversion and
data correction, and atmospheric correction.
The design of a hyperspectral satellite is undeniably complex and involves a process that is still
not well-established and documented. Therefore, this book, which is written to cover all the aspects
of this process and draws upon many years of experience and knowledge, should be of signicant
value as a reference or guideline for engineers and decision makers at space agencies, industry pro-
fessionals, and academics and students in the aerospace sector and related elds. Academics in the
broader eld of remote sensing would likely nd the chapters on background and data processing to
be the most benecial part of this book.
The contents of the book are intended for readers with a university education in an engineer-
ing domain. No prerequisite knowledge is needed. The book could also be used as a reference for