Concept and technology development for the multispectral imager of the Canadian Polar Communications and Weather mission

Louis Moreau; Patrick Dubois; Frédéric Girard; François Tanguay; Jacques Giroux

doi:10.1117/12.974713

19 November 2012 Concept and technology development for the multispectral imager of the Canadian Polar Communications and Weather mission

Louis Moreau, Patrick Dubois, Frédéric Girard, François Tanguay, Jacques Giroux

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8533, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XVI; 85330N (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.974713
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2012, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

The Polar Communications and Weather (PCW) mission is proposed by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), in partnership with Environment Canada, the Department of National Defence, and several other Canadian government departments. The objectives of the PCW mission are to offer meteorological observations and telecommunication services for the Canadian North. These capabilities are particularly important because of increasing interest in the Arctic and the desire to maintain Canadian sovereignty in this region. The PCW mission has completed its Phase A in 2011. The PCW Meteorological Payload is a Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI) that will provide near-real time weather imagery for the entire circumpolar region with a refresh period of 15 to 30 minutes. Two satellites on a Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) will carry the instrument so as to observe the high latitudes 24 hours per day from a point of view that is almost geostationary. The data from the imagers are expected to greatly enhance accuracy of numerical weather prediction models for North America and globally. The mission will also produce useful information on environment and climate in the North. During Phase A, a certain number of critical technologies were identified. The CSA has initiated an effort to develop some of these so that their Technology Readiness Level (TRL) will be suitable for the follow-on phases of the program. An industrial team lead by ABB has been selected to perform technology development activities for the Meteorological Payload. The goal of the project is to enhance the TRL of the telescope, the spectral separation optics, and the infrared multispectral cameras of the PCW Meteorological Payload by fabricating and testing breadboards for these items. We will describe the Meteorological Payload concept and report on the status of the development activities.

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Louis Moreau, Patrick Dubois, Frédéric Girard, François Tanguay, and Jacques Giroux "Concept and technology development for the multispectral imager of the Canadian Polar Communications and Weather mission", Proc. SPIE 8533, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XVI, 85330N (19 November 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.974713

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