Miniature Spectral Imager In-Orbit Demonstration Results From Aalto-1 Nanosatellite Mission

This paper provides a summary of Finnish Aalto-1 CubeSat mission results so far, and concentrates especially on the results achieved with it's miniature hyperspectral camera for Earth Observation. The Aalto-1 satellite is a multipayload nanosatellite with total mass of 4 kg. It features three different scientific payloads, all built for in-orbit technology demonstration. The main payload of the mission is a tiny hyperspactral camera AaSI, especially built for CubeSat satellite. The spectral camera is based on Fabry-Perot interferometric spectral filter technology and it is capable to measure freely adjustable spectral channels. The mass of the camera is only 592 grams. Additionally, the satellite features a deorbiting experiment and a radiation monitor instrument. The satellite platform has three-axis stabilization, two channel communication system and powerful on-board computer. The Aalto-1 satellite was launched on 23 June 2017 and the first image with the AaSI camera was acquired on 5 July 2017. By May 2018 the satellite has taken several images and spectral images and achieved the most important mission goals. The Aalto-1 mission results demonstrated for the first time in-orbit that a miniature Fabry-Perot spectral camera for Earth Observation can be successfully operated in space.