Western University Leads Development of Innovative Lunar Camera System for Canadian Space Agency
A $3.8 million contract has been awarded to Western University to advance a cutting-edge dual-camera imager designed to explore the Moon’s surface, bolstering Canada’s role in lunar exploration.
Western University has been selected by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to spearhead the development of a novel, compact dual-camera imager for use on the lunar surface. The project, funded through a $3.8 million CSA contract, will contribute to the agency’s lunar utility rover – a versatile vehicle intended for logistical support, astronaut assistance during spacewalks, and crucial scientific investigations.
The initiative is led by Jayshri Sabarinathan, an electrical and computer engineering professor, and a multidisciplinary team from Western, collaborating with industry partners including Mission Control Space Services, INO, LightSail, and Spectral Devices. This initial phase 0 contract from the CSA will focus on refining Western’s Dual Sensor Multispectral Imager instrument (DS-MSI) for integration into the Canadian lunar utility rover.
The Western-led team includes expertise from across the university, with contributions from Earth sciences professor Catherine Neish, mechanical and materials engineering professor Kamran Siddiqui, Institute for Earth and Space Exploration (Western Space) research coordinator Eric Pilles, and Kim Tait, a mineralogy curator at the Royal Ontario Museum. This collaborative approach underscores the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of modern space exploration.
DS-MSI: A Made-in-Canada Solution for Lunar Science
The DS-MSI is designed to address key scientific objectives on the Moon, including detailed characterization of lunar regolith – the loose dust and rock covering the lunar surface – identifying potential water ice deposits, and analyzing the composition of critical minerals. According to Sabarinathan, understanding lunar composition is vital not only for scientific advancement but also for potential in-situ resource utilization, paving the way for sustainable lunar operations.
The Canadian lunar utility rover is envisioned as a critical asset for astronauts, providing support for cargo transport, logistical tasks, and construction activities on the Moon. The DS-MSI will play a key role in enabling these operations through high-resolution stereo imaging for rover navigation.
A key innovation of the DS-MSI lies in its compact filter wheel, currently under patent application. This uniquely engineered mechanism supports two camera sensors – one visible to near-infrared (VIS-NIR) and one short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) – with a single, integrated system. This design contrasts with traditional approaches that utilize separate wheels or multiple components, resulting in a lighter and more compact instrument suitable for space missions.
“Our unified filter wheel will be designed to reduce overall size, weight and complexity, which would make the instrument lighter and more compact for deployment on space missions,” Sabarinathan explained.
Beyond the Moon: Versatile Applications for the Dual Camera System
The technology behind the DS-MSI has broader applications beyond lunar exploration. The Western team has been developing this dual camera system for several years, adapting it for diverse applications such as agricultural monitoring and methane detection in Ontario’s landfills. A smaller version of the system is even being deployed on the Skylark CubeSat to track migratory birds.
Looking ahead, Sabarinathan highlighted potential applications in the defense sector, including monitoring ice and snow in the Arctic and identifying potential threats. “Whether it’s monitoring ice and snow in the Arctic or identifying and monitoring external threats on the ground, it’s the same underlying system, adapted for different missions,” she stated.
The development of the DS-MSI represents a significant step forward in Canadian space technology, demonstrating the potential for innovation and collaboration to drive advancements in lunar exploration and beyond. .
