Western University Leads Development of Advanced Lunar Imager for CSA Rover
Western University has been selected by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to develop a concept for a compact dual-camera imager designed to explore the Moon's surface. This initiative is part of a broader effort to advance instrument concepts for the CSA's future lunar utility rover, which will support astronauts, manage logistics, and conduct scientific investigations.
The CSA has awarded Western University an initial Phase 0 contract, part of $3.8 million in total contracts, to advance its Dual Sensor Multispectral Imager instrument (DS-MSI). This project is led by Jayshri Sabarinathan, an electrical and computer engineering professor.
Collaborative Team and Mission Objectives
The interdisciplinary Western team is collaborating with industry partners Mission Control Space Services, INO, LightSail, and Spectral Devices. Key project members include Earth sciences professor Catherine Neish, mechanical and materials engineering professor Kamran Siddiqui, Institute for Earth and Space Exploration research coordinator Eric Pilles, and Royal Ontario Museum mineralogy curator Kim Tait.
The DS-MSI, a Canadian-developed camera system, is designed to meet crucial lunar science objectives. These include characterizing lunar regolith (dust and rock), identifying water ice, and analyzing critical mineral composition. Beyond scientific exploration, the Canadian lunar utility rover will also assist astronauts by transporting cargo and performing logistics and construction duties on the Moon.
"Studying lunar composition is important for understanding the Moon's formation and evolution," stated Sabarinathan. She added that this work also has implications for in-situ resource utilization, such as identifying water ice and mapping lunar resources.
Innovative Dual-Camera System
The DS-MSI provides high-resolution stereo images essential for rover navigation. Its core innovation lies in a compact, patent-pending filter wheel, uniquely engineered to support two camera sensors—one visible to near-infrared (VIS-NIR) and one short-wavelength infrared (SWIR)—with a single, integrated mechanism. This design significantly deviates from traditional systems that typically rely on separate wheels or multiple components.
Sabarinathan, a faculty member with Western Space, noted that the unified filter wheel is designed to reduce overall size, weight, and complexity, making the instrument lighter and more compact for space missions.
By precisely rotating the wheel to position different filters in front of each sensor, this design enables accurate multispectral data capture. This data is primarily used for monitoring and analyzing the physical, chemical, and biological properties of planetary surfaces and atmospheres.
Scientific Significance and Broader Applications
Measuring light in specific signature spectral bands, including those outside the visible light spectrum like NIR and SWIR, will provide researchers with detailed information about surface composition and characteristics. Understanding the surface composition of a planetary body is a key focus for comprehending its geological history and locating potential critical resources.
Sabarinathan also highlighted the versatility of this dual-camera system, mentioning that different versions have been developed for a variety of applications. These include agricultural monitoring, methane detection in Ontario's landfills, tracking migratory birds on the Skylark CubeSat, and potential defense applications such as Arctic monitoring and identifying external threats.