Elbit Systems’ JUPITER Space Camera Successfully Launched with SpaceX

The Israeli company Elbit Systems Ltd. announced the successful launch of its advanced JUPITER space camera aboard the National Advanced Optical System (NAOS) satellite, 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^th from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket operated by SpaceX.

Elbit explains the innovative edge of JUPITER: “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.

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. 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.”

pic Front: The NAOS satellite lift-off (courtesy of SpaceX)