MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates [Toronto: MDA] has been selected by the Canadian Space Agency to design an Earth observation satellite mission that will use hyperspectral technology.

The mission will use special cameras to measure the intensity of reflected sunlight to provide a fingerprint of the Earth’s resources and environment. Applications include agriculture, forestry, geology, inland and coastal waters, the military, and urban planning.

Under the $250,000 Canadian ($165,000) design study, MDA will identify the options available for a Canadian information mission that would employ small satellite technology, and utilize hyperspectral sensing.