Code 587 Technologies and Products

SpaceCube - On-Board SAR Data Processing

Principal Investigator (PI)

• Tom Flatley/Code 587
• Thomas.P.Flatley@nasa.gov

Description and Objectives

• Hyper-spectral (H/S) instruments generate large amounts of raw data that is typically stored on-board and then sent to the ground, where it is processed into images and related products. Ground-based H/S data processing algorithms often process only select bands, or combine/integrate the raw data cube such that the final data product volume is typically 10x to 100x smaller than the raw data volume. If traditional H/S data processing functions could be implemented on-board the spacecraft then only the final data products would need to be stored, enabling the instrument to collect 10x to 50x more data.

Preliminary results from our FY08 On-Board Hyper-Spectral Data Processing IRAD --- Left: California Wildfire Scene, Center: On-Board Wildfire Detection and Temperature Characterization, Right: On-Board Product Generation for Direct Downlink to Emergency Services Personnel

Technical Approach

• Obtain sample input data, algorithms and sample output data products from the science team.
• Create PC benchmark implementation in Matlab.
• Systematically convert the Matlab functionality to SpaceCube FPGA*, CPU* and DSP* functions.
• Integrate and test the SpaceCube implementation.
• Compare SpaceCube & Benchmark products.
• * FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array; CPU: Central Processing Unit; DSP: Digital Signal Processor

Main Innovation(s)

• This technology would enable "order of magnitude" improvements in H/S data collection and use for Decadal Survey Earth Science missions.

Infusion Potential

• Earth Science Decadal Survey missions
• Cross-cutting technology for Planetary and Exploration systems