The development of an advanced multispectral infrared detector for the Sentinel-2 Next-Generation (NG) land monitoring satellite mission is now under way at Lynred, a leading global provider of high-quality infrared detectors for the aerospace, defence, and commercial markets. The selection was made through an open bidding process. Under the auspices of the European Commission’s Copernicus NG program, both missions are overseen by the European Space Agency (ESA). The data generated by multispectral imaging is useful for farming, forestry, climate and disaster management, and the identification of land surface features and landscape patterns.
The next-generation project has given Lynred a contract to pre-develop Phase A/B1. In order to meet Sentinel-2 NG’s needs for increased performance at the system level to achieve a higher level of survey accuracy, it will construct a multispectral infrared detector, a sophisticated high-resolution imaging equipment. These parameters include introducing new spectral bands and reducing the ground sample distance. The first prototype is anticipated around 2026.
Sentinel-2 NG is an intriguing and difficult project. Space Business creation Manager Philippe Chorier of Lynred stated, “Lynred is extremely proud to have been chosen to take part in the development of the next generation of satellites for this remarkable land monitoring mission.” “The consistent performance of our infrared detectors in space missions is demonstrated by our extensive track record in in extreme conditions and in our ability to fulfil the stringent criteria of space agencies.”
The current generation of missions will be replaced by the Sentinel-2 Next Generation (NG) mission at the start of the next decade. Its goal is to maintain continuity in mapping changes in land cover, tracking plant growth, and tracking global forest cover after 2030. Better land surface resolution—the current Sentinel-2 resolution in the visible and infrared spectral regions is 10 / 20 m, respectively—will be one of the program’s main performance improvements. Resolution of Target Sentinel-2 NG is 5 / 10 m, respectively.
Sentinel-2 NG has raised the industrial stakes by requiring the delivery of more units in half the time, whereas the previous Sentinel-2 mission required Lynred to produce tens of flight models over the course of many years. Lynred has the industrial capability and experience necessary to deliver at a faster pace, according to Chorier.
Lynred’s multispectral IR detector for Sentinel-2 NG will feature five or six detection lines, each with around 2,000 pixels at a 15-micron pitch. The project encompasses the design of the entire detector, including the ROIC and the detection circuit based on Mercury Cadmium Telluride semiconductor material. Additionally, space-grade packaging will be designed to integrate the detector into the S2 NG satellite payload.
