The new paradigm of the space sector, with a drastic reduction in launch costs and the rise of small satellites, demands more than ever the introduction of innovative technologies, especially in a sector as emerging today as the Earth Observation market.Within this framework, the IACTEC-Space group of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias proposes the design of a high-resolution microsatellite for observing the Earth in the visible, near infrared and short-wave infrared bands (VIS-NIR -SWIR). The proposal combines new generation developments and technologies, capable of working in the infrared without the need for cryogenics, with a compact and high-performance optical design, allowing a more efficient, viable and lower-cost implementation than traditional solutions.

The objective with this proposal will be to reach Phase 1 of the development, that is, to develop a first engineering model.The introduction of the SWIR range is also key in this proposal, first because there are currently no solutions that cover this band with small platforms and, second, because it provides information that is impossible to obtain in other ranges, and this information is also essential to successfully address Today's critical social challenges such as the fight against fires, desertification or the conservation of the ecosystem and biodiversity of the territories.

This project is also strategic as part of IACTEC's determined commitment to contribute to strengthening the local industry in the Canary Islands with a new, more diversified economic model that encourages the creation of technology-based companies. Furthermore, the initiatives presented in this project are fully aligned with the objectives of the EECTI and with those of the technological and socioeconomic development strategies of the Canary Islands (RIS3 and S4).