The ARTEMIS, a hyperspectral imaging sensor from Raytheon, is being tasked for the Air Force Space Command’s tactical military role, which is the first of its kind.
Raytheon’s enhanced responsive type of tactically effective spectrometer for military imaging applications has completed successfully its one-year long trial mission on board the Tactical Satellite-3 of the Air Force Research Laboratory. Based on this mission’s success, Raytheon has been informed that the TacSat-3’s control will be assumed by the Space Command of the Air Force for using the ARTEMIS for an operational role.
Raytheon ARTEMIS Tasked for Operational Use
The TacSat-3 program had commenced as part of the operationally responsive space initiative of the U.S. Department of Defense, which aims to provide field commanders affordable, flexible choices for getting tactical surveillance data from space in real time.
Air Force Research Laboratory had headed this initiative and the ORS Office provided aid to the initiative.
The TacSat-3 program was created for demonstrating the possibility of making and launching a payload for the military under a tight budget and schedule constraints.
Hyperspectral sensors are able to gather light across a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum, offering unmatched spectral detail, unlike visible imagers. This spectral information creates a unique signature that can be compared with the known object’s spectral signatures for speedy identification of potential interest areas.
The imager combines geo-location coordinates with spectral information in a user-friendly map. This information is then transmitted to ground troops in almost real time directly.
Raytheon is also negotiating with various government clients for speedy deployment of more hyperspectral space sensors.
Raytheon Space Systems’ Vice President Raytheon informed that this imager offers military commanders extra benefit in the asymmetric battlefield. He added that the
ARTEMIS will be able to sense both natural and man-made materials, resulting in more new capability for the DoD.
The Pentagon ORS Office’s Director, Dr. Peter Wegner, explained that the TacSat-3 has proved to be a pathfinder for exploring new operational concepts for the future ORS systems and depicts the way in which it is possible to achieve small things using a small budget in limited time.
Source: http://www.raytheon.com