XCAM Secures CEOI Grant Extension to Advance Next-Generation Earth Observation Camera

07/10/25
 
XCAM is pleased to announce that it has received an extension grant from the UK’s Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation (CEOI) to continue development of its groundbreaking NewSpace Ultra Low-Light Camera for Earth Observation (EO) Applications.
 
This competitive award follows the successful completion of the project’s first phase and provides funding for an eight-month extension beginning in July 2025. The programme will advance the design and testing of a flight-ready, ultra-low-noise camera system capable of capturing exceptionally high-quality images of Earth — even in extremely low-light conditions.
 
The CEOI’s continued support recognises the transformative potential of XCAM’s ultra-low-light imaging technology. Once completed, the system is expected to enable a new generation of Earth observation capabilities, including:
 
  • Monitoring biodiversity and crop health
  • Measuring thermospheric wind speeds
  • Mapping polar ice during winter darkness
 
These applications will provide valuable insights for climate science, environmental monitoring, and sustainable resource management.
 
Working in collaboration with The Open University’s Centre for Electronic Imaging, the project team will refine the camera’s architecture to achieve state-of-the-art performance and reach Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6).
 
Key technical goals include:
 
  • Redesigning flight electronics to enable 30 frames-per-second operation
  • Optimising performance to approach 0.25 e⁻ rms “photon-counting” sensitivity
  • Completing radiation validation to ensure reliability in space environments
 
The compact camera system will be offered to instrument builders and satellite developers worldwide, supporting the rapidly growing micro- and nano-satellite markets.