Passing through the gauntlet of space hazards

The pressures of the orbital environment are multifaceted. Thermal cycling can cause minute structural expansions and contractions, potentially distorting critical optical alignments by microns. Radiation can ‘darken’ glass or degrade thin-film coatings, while outgassing – the release of trapped gases from materials in a vacuum – threatens to contaminate sensitive surfaces, permanently clouding the system’s ‘vision.’

To overcome these hurdles, success must be engineered from the molecular level up.

Engineering for resilience: Materials and methodology

Building a space-ready system starts with a rigorous selection of radiation-hardened materials and substrates. Coatings must be specifically engineered to maintain their spectral properties despite constant bombardment by high-energy particles and extreme UV exposure. Furthermore, materials must be low-outgassing to protect the integrity of the entire satellite bus.

However, the right materials are only effective when part of a proven methodology. True reliability is built into every stage, from the initial conceptual design through to industrialization. This involves:

• Integrated analysis: Combining optical design with mechanical and thermal modeling to predict how the system will behave during the ‘thermal shock’ of moving from sunlit to eclipsed orbits.
• Iterative validation: Using prototyping to identify and reduce risks long before the flight hardware is assembled.

Rigorous qualification: The crucible of testing

Design alone cannot guarantee survival; qualification is where reliability is proven. To ensure a payload is mission-ready, it must survive a ‘trial by fire’ (and ice) through exhaustive testing regimes:

• Vibration and shock: Simulating the violent mechanical stresses of a rocket launch.
• Thermal-vacuum (TVAC): Replicating the vacuum of space and the extreme temperature gradients the system will face.
• Thermal infrared optics validation: For missions operating in the IR spectrum, precise testing is required to ensure the system’s own thermal signature doesn’t interfere with data collection.

Supply chain security and European sovereignty

In the modern space race, reliability also extends to the supply chain. For mission-critical components, the ability to rely on European-based production offers a strategic advantage. It ensures high-quality control, reduces geopolitical dependence, and provides a secure ecosystem for long-term program stability.

Designing for the vacuum is about more than just meeting a technical datasheet. It is about a holistic commitment to excellence – anticipating the extremes, validating every assumption, and ensuring that once your system leaves the atmosphere, it delivers the clarity and data it was built for, no matter how harsh the environment.

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A collaborative leap in space technology

To meet the challenge of investigating the Moon’s detailed surface mineralogy and soil composition, CNES initiated a European collaboration to develop the next generation of multispectral cameras for lunar rovers. The project brought together 3D PLUS, SILIOS Technologies, IMEC, and Lambda-X Verhaert High-Tech to deliver two compact cameras – CAM-1 and CAM-2 – designed to investigate the Moon’s surface with exceptional precision.

Multispectral imaging captures data in specific spectral bands beyond the range of human vision. By analyzing the Moon across these wavelengths, rovers can differentiate minerals, study the composition of regolith, detect water ice and support topographical and geological mapping. This data also informs future in-situ resource extraction, making multispectral cameras essential tools for durable lunar exploration.

Crafting the eyes of the Rover

Lambda-X was entrusted with designing, manufacturing and testing the custom optics for both cameras. These assemblies form the eyes of the instruments, enabling the sensors to capture accurate multispectral images within the strict mass and volume limits imposed on rover payloads.

CAM-1 and CAM-2 each combine a compact optical assembly. CAM-1 uses a 4Mpx sensor with multispectral filters developed by SILIOS Technologies, while CAM-2 relies on a 2Mpx sensor with filters from IMEC. Both are embedded in CASPEX optoelectronic cores designed by 3D PLUS, forming robust space-grade camera heads.

For these instruments, Lambda-X designed, manufactured and tested the dedicated optics, part of their IMAGO product line: CAM-1 optics are a customization of the IMAGO-80 (80° FoV), and CAM-2 of the IMAGO-56 (56° FoV). Both assemblies were tailored to their sensors’ spectral requirements, ensuring that every photon in the 450–700 nm range is captured with maximum clarity.

Compact design, significant impact

Each camera, including optics, fits within a volume of less than 65 × 65 × 80 mm and weighs under 270 grams.

This balance of optical performance and compactness makes multispectral imaging feasible on a rover platform, allowing scientists to gather valuable data without compromising on the practical realities of space hardware integration.

Mission milestones and future horizons

The engineering models of CAM-1 and CAM-2, integrating Lambda-X optics, have been successfully assembled and tested, marking an important milestone. These instruments will allow scientists to investigate the Moon’s surface with greater clarity and detail, paving the way for future missions to identify and use in-situ resources.

Contributing to this project builds on our proven flight heritage while advancing the frontiers of space exploration. By developing optics that combine precision, compactness, and reliability, we keep pushing the boundaries of what rovers can see and discover on the Moon.

Read the full paper about the development of both cameras, from the sensors to the full camera assembly here. 

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