Space Optical Payloads & Sensors
Complete optical assemblies are self-contained optical instruments designed to deliver a defined optical function as an integrated unit.
Astravon develops custom optical payloads and sensor assemblies for European space missions. We support programmes from optical architecture and performance modelling through opto-mechanical design, manufacture, alignment, integration and environmental verification.
Our systems are developed around the mission, detector and spacecraft as a single engineering problem. This enables optical performance, thermal stability, structural integrity, manufacturability and alignment retention to be addressed together.
Core engineering considerations
- Spectral range, aperture and focal length
- Detector format, pixel pitch and focal-plane interface
- Resolution, field of view and optical throughput
- Pointing stability and line-of-sight requirements
- Thermal, structural and environmental loads
- Payload mass, volume and spacecraft interfaces
Optical Payload Engineering for Space Missions
Astravon develops optical systems as integrated flight hardware rather than isolated optical prescriptions, addressing optical, mechanical, thermal and spacecraft-interface requirements together from the outset.
Key engineering considerations
- Optical architecture, aperture and field of view
- Detector, focal-plane and spectral compatibility
- Alignment sensitivity and tolerance allocation
- Structural stiffness, mass and thermal stability
- Stray-light control and baffling
- Spacecraft interfaces and environmental verification
This integrated approach reduces the risk of conflicting assumptions emerging during integration and helps preserve optical performance through launch and orbital operation.
Space Optical Payloads and Sensors We Support
Earth Observation Payloads
Astravon develops panchromatic, multispectral and mission-specific imaging payloads. Reflective, refractive and catadioptric architectures are assessed against orbital altitude, ground sampling distance, swath, detector format and spacecraft envelope.
Key parameters
- Ground sampling distance: 0.5m
- Swath width: 20km
- Spectral range: 450-900nm
- Required MTF: >0.20 at Nyquist
- Maximum distortion: <0.05%
- Payload mass and envelope: <3 kg / Ø185 × 300 mm
Typical priorities include full-field image quality, thermal focus retention, lightweight structures, compact optical paths and stray-light suppression.
Hyperspectral Imaging Optics
We support telescope, collimation, camera and detector-facing optics for VNIR and SWIR hyperspectral instruments.
Key parameters
- Spectral range and resolution: 400–1,000 nm / 5 nm
- Spatial resolution: 30 m
- Smile and keystone: <0.1 pixel
- Optical throughput: >60%
- Thermal registration stability: <0.1 pixel over operational range
- Instrument mass and envelope: <8 kg / 300 × 200 × 200 mm
Our contribution can range from individual components to a complete integrated opto-mechanical assembly.
Star Tracker Optics
Astravon develops compact star tracker optics for nano-, micro- and conventional satellite platforms. Designs are optimised for field of view, detector sampling, distortion stability, thermal behaviour and centroiding performance.
|
Parameter |
Performance |
|
Effective focal length |
40 mm |
|
Field of view |
26.4° |
|
Aperture |
f/2.8 |
|
Spectral range |
450–1,000 nm |
|
Maximum distortion |
0.05% |
|
Detector compatibility |
2,048 × 2,048 pixels |
|
Passive athermalisation |
−40°C to +60°C |
|
MTF |
>0.46 at 77 lp/mm across the field at room temperature |
The image-space telecentric architecture reduces sensitivity to detector position and alignment variation.
Spectrometer Optical Components
Astravon supplies precision optical components and alignment-critical assemblies for spaceborne spectrometers.
Typical deliverables
- Collimating and focusing optics
- Custom mirrors and refractive elements
- Diffractive optical components
- Detector-coupling optics
- Optical benches, mounts and pre-aligned assemblies
Components are specified against wavelength range, spectral resolution, throughput, wavefront performance and mechanical interface requirements.
LiDAR Optical Systems
We develop optical systems and components for spaceborne LiDAR transmit and receive paths.
Engineering scope
- Beam expansion, shaping and collimation
- Collection telescopes and relay optics
- Spectral filtering and detector interfaces
- Coating and substrate selection
- Transmit–receive alignment and environmental verification
Key requirements may include wavelength 1550nm, beam divergence <0.5 mrad, receive aperture 200mm, optical throughput >70% and boresight stability <10 µrad.
Laser Communication Terminals
Astravon develops optical assemblies and integrated architectures for inter-satellite and space-to-ground laser communication.
Engineering scope
- Transmit and receive optical paths
- Acquisition and tracking optics
- Fine-pointing and steering assemblies
- Telescope design
- Detector or fibre coupling
- Terminal-level integration and testing
Architectures are developed around wavelength 1,550nm, link range 45,000km pointing accuracy <10 µrad, beam divergence <20 µrad and spacecraft accommodation <10 kg / 300 × 200 × 200 mm.
From Optical Design to Tested Hardware
Astravon supports payload development from concept through tested hardware.
Capabilities
- Optical and opto-mechanical design
- Precision mirrors, lenses and diffractive optics
- Lightweight structures and optical mounts
- Detector integration and alignment
- Vibration, thermal and vacuum testing
- Selected qualification support
This coordinated process helps reduce interface risk and preserve performance through manufacture, launch and orbital operation.
Representative Payload Performance
A lightweight Earth observation payload developed by Astravon combines a coaxial two-mirror architecture with corrective optics.
|
Parameter |
Design Value (typical) |
|
Effective focal length |
580 mm |
|
Aperture |
150 mm |
|
Spectral range |
450–900 nm |
|
MTF at 156 lp/mm |
22% |
|
Optical throughput |
76.54% |
|
Distortion |
0.05% |
|
Mechanical envelope |
Ø185 × 300 mm |
|
Total mass |
2.6 kg |
Lightweight supports, low-expansion mirror materials and thermal verification retain alignment and focus within a sub-3 kg payload.
Discuss Your Optical Requirements
Astravon can support a new payload, an existing architecture or a specific component, alignment or integration challenge.
To begin a technical discussion, share the available mission parameters:
- Orbit or observation geometry
- Spectral range
- Detector format and pixel pitch
- Required resolution and field coverage
- Pointing stability
- Thermal environment
- Available mass and volume
- Existing optical prescription or interface definition
Our engineers can review the dominant performance sensitivities and discuss the most appropriate next stage of development.
Performance is defined through optical budgets, traceable metrology and verification planning suited to your specific mission requirements appropriate to your specific mission needs.