Canadensys Aerospace Corporation|Canadensys Aerospace Corporation

Purpose

Situational awareness is a key capability required by most modern exploration missions today. Government and commercially-leveraged missions alike increasingly need more compact, affordable imaging systems capable of delivering a range of data products. At the same time, mission constraints drive a need for improved onboard processing, autonomy and artificial intelligence to minimize volume of Earth-Moon data transfer, all while keeping costs low. This project aims to address these needs and challenges via demonstration and performance characterization of a Smart Lunar Vision System and its different functionalities ahead of future applications in human and robotic exploration. The system developed by Canadensys features a low-mass, low power 360° imaging system, with applications spanning Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) out to the Moon, Mars and beyond. The LEAP Capability Demonstration project builds flight heritage for the system in cislunar space, ensuring a system that is both operationally ready and commercially competitive.