The National Advanced Optical System (NAOS) satellite, manufactured by OHB Italia SpA, was launched on 26 August from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a Falcon 9 rocket operated by SpaceX.
The multispectral and very large aperture camera, developed by Elbit Systems, is envisioned to support Earth observation missions, military operations, environmental monitoring and scientific research.
The camera uses a high-resolution panchromatic channel (black and white), which captures fine spatial details across the full visible spectrum. It also has red, green, blue channels for true-colour imaging and a near-infrared channel to enable analysis of vegetation health, water content and material properties.
“JUPITER is capable of capturing continuous long image strips with a swath, allowing efficient coverage of large geographic areas in a single orbital overpass,” according to a public statement from Elbit Systems.
“The data generated by the JUPITER camera is designed for seamless integration with both onboard systems and ground station analytics platforms. Its compatibility with advanced image processing and artificial intelligence engines enables the extraction of actionable insights, supporting informed decision making across a wide range of applications.
“In addition to the camera, Elbit Systems developed and supplied advanced algorithms to support the ground segment of the NAOS mission, enhancing image analysis capabilities.
“This achievement is the result of a close collaboration between OHB Italia and Elbit Systems, combining satellite engineering excellence with top-tier imaging technology to deliver one of the highest-performing spaceborne optical systems in the world.”
JUPITER will reportedly be one of the world’s most advanced space cameras with an exceptional resolution ratio, ideal for advanced image fusion and analysis.