KAYA Vision’s rad-hard and New Space grade cameras are engineered for reliability in demanding aerospace environments. Tested to MIL-STD-810G for resistance to shock and vibration, our cameras are designed to endure the extreme vibration and mechanical stress required for launch vehicles and equipment monitoring. Our camera models endure a wide temperature range of -40.0 °C to +85 °C (-40 °F to +185 °F) and high MTBF perfect for the thermal cycling of LEO orbit or the brutal temperatures of GEO to maintain long-term stability. KAYA cameras provide reliable imaging in the harshest environments on the launch vehicles all the way to orbit. The low power and small form factor ensure space and weight are saved in CubeSats, satellites for low earth orbit (LEO), and cramped spacecraft. KAYA Vision cameras which are prepared for New Space or Fully Radiation Hardened and able to withstand the large electromagnetic disturbances of space.
In aerospace applications, short wave infrared imaging (SWIR) can enable multi-spectral imaging, visibility through cloud cover and lo- light conditions. SWIR cameras such as KAYA Vision’s Mercury SWIR cameras offer unmatched sensitivity coupled with KAYA’s ruggedized compact design, making them ideal for monitoring thermal plumes and temperature at launch, small satellite payloads, and aerospace equipment monitoring.
KAYA Vision cameras deliver exceptional sensitivity and resolution, making them well suited for orbital satellite and deep space observation. The fine spatial detail paired with high quantum and low temporal noise enable accurate imaging in low-light conditions commonly encountered in orbital observation and deep space research. Rad-hard cameras limit noise and distortion in sensitive missions.
Engineered for the demands of Low Earth Orbit and beyond, our cameras deliver up to 250MP of snapshot matrix imaging at frame rates applicable for any mission. KAYA Cameras can be prepared for any mission with customizations which include leaded Solder, underfill for BGA components, components screened for radiation tolerance for any orbit with low outgassing components and thermal pads. KAYA also designs and develops interfaces to work with any Telescope or Focus Mechanism with electronics to support the focus mechanism. Whether operating in the visible spectrum or pushing into Short-Wave Infrared for smoke, haze, and low-light penetration, our cameras deliver exceptional signal-to-noise ratios and high dynamic range imagery across a broad range of conditions — all while drawing minimal power. With data interfaces designed to support sensors full speeds, customized enclosures for optimal thermal pathways, and operating temperature ranges from –40°C to +85°C, KAYA’s imaging cameras are built to integrate seamlessly into satellite payloads, UAVs, and airborne survey systems – delivering the resolution, reliability, and throughput that mission-critical Earth observation demands. KAYA provides selectable features for each project which are developed for space. Standard features include precise timing, onboard pre-processing, built in tests, voltage monitoring, watchdog firmware, and much more. Features that can be added upon request include image stacking, onboard storage, q-factor and others. All these features are optimized for the FPGA selected to provide the lowest power consumption and best image quality.
KAYA Vision’s Astro Swift features 640 x 512 resolution, 10 μm x 10 μm pixel size, >86 dB dynamic range
KAYA Vision’s Astro 5514 features 4608 x 3072 resolution, 5.5 μm x 5.5 μm pixel size, >77.5 dB dynamic range.
KAYA Vision’s Astro 487 features 2848 x 2848 resolution, 2.74 μm x 2.74 μm pixel size, >69.85 dB dynamic range
KAYA Vision’s Astro 3265 features 9344 x 7000 resolution, 3.20 μm x 3.20 μm pixel size, >65.0 dB dynamic range
KAYA Vision’s Astro 411 features 14192 (H) x 10640 (V) resolution, 3.76 μm x 3.76 μm pixel size, >81.8 dB dynamic range.
KAYA Vision’s Astro 661 features 13392 (H) x 9528 (V) resolution, 3.45 μm x 3.45 μm pixel size, >70.8 dB dynamic range.
KAYA Vision’s Astro 811 features 19200 (H) x 12800 (V) resolution, 2.81 μm x 2.81 μm pixel size, >77.6 dB dynamic range.
To ensure seamless integration with spacecraft avionics and payload data handling systems, our space-grade cameras are designed to support robust, fault-tolerant communication protocols, including SpaceWire and SpaceFibre, alongside traditional high-speed interfaces. Beyond advanced connectivity, our engineering processes encompass an exhaustive qualification pipeline to guarantee survival during launch and flawless long-term operation in a vacuum. Our comprehensive reliability program includes rigorous Vibe and Shock testing to simulate launch acoustics and pyrotechnic deployment. Building for space requires absolute confidence in every joint, material, and signal. We back our optical and mechanical designs with deep CTE matching to withstand extreme thermal shifts, thorough Reliability and Stress Analysis, WCA to withstand long-term space degradation. We make the qualification path seamless for our partners by supplying comprehensive space-level documentation (including DCL/DCML) and a disciplined flight-review process across every build, taking smoothly from SRR and SDR through PDR, CDR, TRR, TRB, and DRB.
Every space program in KAYA starts with thorough definition of environmental requirements per orbit attitude, such as radiation, vacuum, life expectancy etc.
All radiation related aspects such as cumulative dose of radiation, single event, heavy ion and displacement effects on the sensor and its supporting electronics, are considered and included in design stages.
Such effects can increase the dark current, parametric drift and slow degradation of image quality, and single particle strikes, which can corrupt a frame, upset a register or latch up a device outright.
Components are screened and tested to the level the mission demands – from radiation-tolerant New Space builds through fully radiation-hardened designs – and the results are documented and delivered with the flight hardware so integrators can close their own analysis without re-qualifying the camera. What testing reveals feeds straight back into the design, which is why fault detection and autonomous recovery are built into KAYA’s FPGA firmware from the start: the goal is not only to survive a radiation event, but to recover from one without a command from the ground.
Confirms that mission requirements and operational needs are clearly defined, understood, achievable, and sufficiently documented. The proposed system architecture, interfaces, functional allocation, and baseline concepts are then reviewed to ensure they satisfy those requirements before detailed design begins.
Confirms that the preliminary design satisfies applicable performance, reliability, and spaceflight requirements, then verifies that the detailed design is complete, technically mature, and sufficiently analyzed, including stress, thermal, and WCA to proceed with flight-hardware fabrication and assembly.
Confirms that the flight hardware, procedures, instrumentation, personnel, and test equipment are ready for formal qualification and acceptance testing. Following testing, results, anomalies, and non-conformances are reviewed to confirm that the applicable success criteria have been met and the test results can be formally accepted.
Conducts the final review of the completed unit, qualification and acceptance records, test reports, configuration documentation, and non-conformances before approving the hardware for delivery or spacecraft integration.
