Haifa, Israel. Elbit Systems’ advanced JUPITER space camera was launched into space aboard the National Advanced Optical System (NAOS) satellite. This satellite is aimed at supporting a wide span of earth Observation missions, including military operations, environmental monitoring and scientific research. The NAOS satellite, manufactured by OHB Italia S.p.A., was launched on August 26 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket operated by SpaceX.
Developed by Elbit Systems ISTAR & EW – ELOP, JUPITER is one of the world’s most advanced space cameras, featuring a very large aperture and an exceptionally lightweight design.
According to Elbit Systems, the camera is multispectral, offering a combination of imaging channels:
- A high-resolution panchromatic channel (black and white), which captures fine spatial details across the full visible spectrum.
- RGB channels (red, green, blue) for true-color imaging.
- A NIR channel (Near-Infrared), which enables analysis of vegetation health, water content, and material properties.
These channels are provided at an exceptional resolution ratio, ideal for advanced image fusion and analysis, the company release said. JUPITER is capable of capturing continuous long image strips with a swath, allowing efficient coverage of large geographic areas in a single orbital overpass.
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 AI 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 space borne optical systems in the world.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
