Thales, Leonardo, Telespazio, e-GEOS, Sitael signs PRISMA agreement to monitor the planet’s health

The Italian Space Agency ASI has appointed Thales Alenia Space to conduct a feasibility study alongside Leonardo, Telespazio, e-GEOS, and Sitael for a new phase in the programme. A key role will be played by the new hyperspectral sensor produced in the Campi Bisenzio plant.

A feasibility study is about to begin for PRISMA Second Generation, a hyperspectral Earth observation mission offering even more advanced performances. The Italian Space Agency (ASI, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) has awarded the project to Thales Alenia Space, alongside Leonardo, Telespazio, e-GEOS and Sitael. The mission’s hyperspectral sensor will also be developed by Leonardo in Campi Bisenzio (Florence).

A mission to protect the environment

Forest fire risk, desertification, debilitated agricultural lands, unlicensed dumping sites, and asbestos buildings, as well as minefields, hidden structures, and suspicious activities: nothing escapes PRISMA’s hyperspectral eye.

PRISMA Second Generation will ensure continuity with the work performed by its precursor, currently orbiting about 615 km from the Earth to collect data and information on the state of the planet’s health. But that’s not all.

Features for data observation

The new mission will make it possible to capitalise on and consolidate the level of technological excellence

Given the great interest in hyperspectral technology, PRISMA Second Generation will be designed with new, high-performing features responding to the growing demand for Earth observation data and benefitting institutions, scientific communities, and citizens alike.

The new mission will therefore make it possible to capitalise on and consolidate the level of technological excellence achieved by Italy’s Earth observation industry, particularly in the area of hyperspectral technology.

The hyperspectral eye makes all the difference

It is PRISMA’s eye that is, its hyperspectral sensor that makes this mission truly unique. 

Enrico Suetta, Chief Technical Officer responsible for Research & Development of Optronics & Space business at Leonardo, is the first to describe PRISMA’s hyperspectral technology as unique, given that the instrument uses reflected light and infrared signals from Earth to “analyse practically everything: minerals, gases, plants, liquids, artificial and natural materials.”

Hyperspectral technology

An image from Leonardo’s PRISMA hyperspectral sensor is made up of 240 images, one for each visible spectral band

Hyperspectral technology allows seeing things the human eye cannot detect: not only the shape of objects but their chemical and physical composition as well. Every material has its own particular “spectral signature”, like a fingerprint; a unique combination of colours, referred to as spectral bands, each characterised by a specific intensity.

An image from Leonardo’s PRISMA hyperspectral sensor is made up of 240 images, one for each visible band of the spectrum. PRISMA Second Generation will have an even more powerful hyperspectral instrument.

High-resolution images

First of all, the images’ resolution on the ground will be higher than is possible today. This will add to the potential uses of the data collected, for example, we may be able to detect an oil spill in the ocean before it spreads, and precision agriculture may be based on even more accurate data.

Other new features of the second-generation hyperspectral payload include the ability to generate 3D and “mosaic” images. These two new functions on the frontiers of hyperspectral technology will add to the quality and quantity of data collected.

3D and mosaic images

The new mission will send about 3 terabytes of hyperspectral images to the ground every day

3D images made up of “snapshots” of the same area taken from different angles will provide a 360-degree view of areas of interest. “Mosaic” images, on the other hand, will offer an opportunity to capture more details over a wider area with a single satellite fly-over.

The new mission will be capable of sending about 3 terabytes of hyperspectral images to the ground every day, 10 times its predecessor’s capacity.

Italy's successful industrial effort

ASI has awarded the feasibility study for PRISMA Second Generation to a temporary group of companies led by Thales Alenia Space, together with Leonardo, Telespazio, e-GEOS, and SITAEL.

Leonardo will draw on its experience in the development of electro-optical and hyperspectral sensors to produce the new PRISMA Second Generation hyperspectral payload.

Design and analysis

Thales Alenia Space Italia will be responsible for the design of the end-to-end system and the new satellite. Telespazio will design the ground segment of the PRISMA Second Generation programme, particularly the system requirements and architecture. 

e-GEOS, a company owned by Telespazio (80%) and ASI (20%), will be responsible for analysing the market scenarios in which PRISMA Second Generation will be operating, and will assist Leonardo in defining users’ requirements.