The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has selected Simera Sense to deliver a hyperspectral instrument. The hyperspectral instrument with advanced onboard processing is for the University’s 6U Cubesat mission. The CubeSat mission is to launch towards the end of 2022 subsequently. 

Simera Sense combines the +30 band HyperScape50 instrument with Unibap’s (Sweden)  SpaceCloud Services to create a payload with powerful artificial intelligence capabilities. This unique combination of onboard processing and a hyperspectral sensor provides KAUST with the capacity for enhanced Earth system monitoring. According to Simera Sense, this will be via an unprecedented nanosatellite configuration. 

According to Professor Matthew McCabe, “this unique instrument will provide enhanced monitoring of Earth’s ecosystems”. He adds that it will deliver “improved metrics of vegetation health, precision agricultural insights”. The professor further adds that the instrument will also provide “detailed observations of our coastal environments in a compact and efficient platform.” Prof Matthew McCabe is the Director of the Climate and Livability Initiative at KAUST.

Simera Sense CEO Johann du Toi adds, “At Simera Sense, we are incredibly excited about working with KAUST”.  She continues that the excitement is “not only to push technology limits but also to assist in creating a deeper understanding of our planet.”

Simera Sense is a world leader in developing optical payloads for nano-, micro-, and small satellites. Furthermore, Simera Sense has offices in Belgium and South Africa. The company’s in-house resources and infrastructure allow them to design, build, verify and calibrate world-class optical payloads.  In addition, the company’s instruments have already flown on multiple missions in space.