Caiman
Dragonfly Aerospace
The Caiman is a high-resolution multispectral imager for 6U CubeSats, offering maximum achievable resolution within its form factor and unmatched image detail for small satellite platforms.
Typed specifications49 values
Discloses 8 of 14 fields engineers filter by in this category (category median 4).
- Ground sample distance (GSD)
- 6.5 m MS, multispectral, at 500 km · datasheet p.1 6.5 m Multispectral MS at 500 km | 3.25 m Multispectral PAN at 500 km | 3.25 m PAN, multispectral, at 500 km | 3.25 m RGB at 500 km +1
- Mass
- 1 400 g incl. electronics · datasheet p.1
- Envelope (L×W×H)
- 3U (100 mm x 100 mm x 250 mm with rear-mounted nCCM) datasheet p.1
- Swath width
- 13 km at 500 km · datasheet p.1
- Spectral bands
- 11 MS · datasheet p.1 11 multispectral (11 x MS)
- Supply voltage
- 5 V nom. · 5V DC · datasheet p.1 5 V nom. · DC
- Power consumption
- 10 W max · Imaging mode · datasheet p.1 4 W max · Readout mode
- Data interface
- LVDS datasheet p.1 SPI TMTC | SpaceWire | I2C TMTC | SPI +7
- Operating temperature
- 10 °C min · datasheet p.1 30 °C max | 10–30 °C
- TRL
- 9 datasheet p.1 9
- Camera type
- RGB datasheet p.1 multispectral
- Scan mode
- pushbroom multispectral · datasheet p.1 frame RGB (snap shot)
- Reference altitude
- 500 km datasheet p.1
- Volume
- 3 U datasheet p.1
- Survival temperature
- -20 °C min · datasheet p.1 55 °C max | -20–55 °C
- Bit depth
- 10 bit multispectral (10-bit or 12-bit) · datasheet p.1 8 bit RGB (8-bit or 10-bit) | 12 bit multispectral (10-bit or 12-bit) | 10 bit RGB (8-bit or 10-bit)
- On-board storage
- 128 GB datasheet p.1
- On-board compression
- lossless (CCSDS 122 / JPEG-LS) J2K lossless · datasheet p.1 lossy (JPEG / JPEG 2000) J2K lossy | none (raw) RAW
Each value is typed with its unit and measurement condition and cites the datasheet page it was taken from. Nothing is guessed: a field that is absent here has not been published by the manufacturer. machine-extracted ✓ checked by NewSpace Market ✓ manufacturer confirmed by the manufacturer.
As published by the supplier34 lines, in the manufacturer's own wording
- Spatial resolution (GSD) at 500 km (RGB)
- 3.25 m
- Swath at 500 km (RGB)
- 13 km
- Mass (incl. electronics) (RGB)
- 1.4 kg
- Spectral bands (RGB)
- Standard RGB
- Imager type (RGB)
- Snap shot
- Physical size (RGB)
- 3U (100 mm x 100 mm x 250 mm with rear-mounted nCCM)
- Data format (RGB)
- 8-bit or 10-bit
- Integrated mass data storage (RGB)
- 128 Gigabytes
- Compression (RGB)
- RAW or J2K lossless or lossy
- Data interface (RGB)
- LVDS, SpaceWire
- Tmtc interface (RGB)
- SPI, I2C, CAN, RS422/ RS485
- Power usage (imaging mode) (RGB)
- < 10 W
- Power usage (readout mode) (RGB)
- < 4 W
- Power supply (RGB)
- 5 V DC
- Operating temperature (RGB)
- +10°C to +30°C
- Survival temperature (RGB)
- -20°C to +55°C
- TRL (RGB)
- 9
- Spatial resolution (GSD) at 500 km (MULTISPECTRAL)
- PAN 3.25 m; MS 6.5 m
- Swath at 500 km (MULTISPECTRAL)
- 13 km
- Mass (incl. electronics) (MULTISPECTRAL)
- 1.4 kg
- Spectral bands (MULTISPECTRAL)
- 11 x MS
- Imager type (MULTISPECTRAL)
- Push broom
- Physical size (MULTISPECTRAL)
- 3U (100 mm x 100 mm x 250 mm with rear-mounted nCCM)
- Data format (MULTISPECTRAL)
- 10-bit or 12-bit
- Integrated mass data storage (MULTISPECTRAL)
- 128 Gigabytes
- Compression (MULTISPECTRAL)
- RAW or J2K lossless or lossy
- Data interface (MULTISPECTRAL)
- LVDS, SpaceWire
- Tmtc interface (MULTISPECTRAL)
- SPI, I2C, CAN, RS422/ RS485
- Power usage (imaging mode) (MULTISPECTRAL)
- < 10 W
- Power usage (readout mode) (MULTISPECTRAL)
- < 4 W
- Power supply (MULTISPECTRAL)
- 5 V DC
- Operating temperature (MULTISPECTRAL)
- +10°C to +30°C
- Survival temperature (MULTISPECTRAL)
- -20°C to +55°C
- TRL (MULTISPECTRAL)
- 9
About
The Caiman is a high-resolution multispectral imager designed for 6U CubeSats, uniquely delivering the maximum achievable resolution within this form factor. Its compact design and large, high-speed data storage combine to offer unmatched image detail for small satellite platforms. The imager is available in two configurations: RGB and Multispectral. The RGB configuration features a snapshot imager type, standard RGB spectral bands, and an 8-bit or 10-bit data format. The Multispectral configuration utilizes a push broom imager type, 11 x MS spectral bands, and a 10-bit or 12-bit data format. Both configurations share common specifications including a mass of 1.4 kg (including electronics), a physical size of 3U (100 mm x 100 mm x 250 mm with rear-mounted nCCM), 128 Gigabytes of integrated mass data storage, and compression options of RAW or J2K lossless or lossy. Data interfaces include LVDS and SpaceWire, while TMTC interfaces are SPI, I2C, CAN, and RS422/RS485. Power usage is less than 10 W in imaging mode and less than 4 W in readout mode, with a 5V DC power supply. The operating temperature range is +10°C to +30°C, and the survival temperature range is -20°C to +55°C. The product has a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 9.
Documentation
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.