Payload electronics and flight software being developed for NASA's Landsat 10 spacecraft

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Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is developing electronics and flight software for the NASA/U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat 10 satellite, which is set to launch in 2031 to collect new and improved Earth observation data. The mission continues NASA's and USGS's partnership on the ongoing Landsat program, which has launched nine satellites since 1972 and provided more than 10 million images of Earth's surface.

Landsat 10's data will support a myriad of land and water science applications, providing insights about water quality, quantity and use, agricultural production, soil conservation and forest management with unmatched radiometric precision and quality.

SwRI is a subcontractor to Raytheon, an RTX business, which is developing the Landsat Instrument Suite (LandIS), including the multispectral imager for Landsat 10. SwRI will provide electronics and software that allow LandIS to capture image data and compress it before transmission back to Earth.

SwRI is also developing control technology to regulate the instrument's temperature and position the camera's mirrors, which direct and focus light to help LandIS capture wide, detailed images of Earth. The institute is developing operational and interface simulators that mimic the behavior of the spaceborne payload to rehearse scientific campaigns on the ground.

"This new technology will continue Landsat's legacy of Earth observations, and SwRI has a strong legacy of developing technology that can reach new heights," Phelan said. "We are leveraging our work in previous NASA and private space industry projects to accomplish our goals. We hope the technology we are developing will lead to exciting new insights into Earth's processes."

SwRI offers extensive experience developing electronics for similar NASA applications. This project, while addressing new challenges, leverages expertise from previous programs.

"Fundamentally, if we can gain more information about what's happening on the Earth in as much detail as possible, we will be better equipped to manage future challenges and utilize available resources," Phelan said.

SwRI recently completed the preliminary design review for the project. The team is currently building a prototype unit in preparation for a critical design review later this year.

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