Raptor Photonics Space Camera Solutions

Raptor Photonics has developed camera solutions with significant space heritage, having cameras flying in optical payloads on several live LEO CubeSat missions operating at altitudes between 160 to 2,000 kilometers. Some cameras have been operational for over 36 months. The company offers LEO camera solutions spanning the UV (180nm) to SWIR (1700nm) spectrum. Both flight-ready COTS options and custom OEM designs are available, suitable for platforms ranging from 1U to 10U.

The camera cores are SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) optimized, athermalized, and ruggedized to withstand launch conditions and maintain optical performance in extreme space operating conditions. Raptor Photonics leverages its in-depth knowledge and experience to collaborate with OEMs and integrators, providing unique custom design features to meet specific imaging requirements.

Key space features include a robust, compact, and athermalized structural design suitable for 1U-12U payloads, and lightweight custom layouts to reduce launch costs. The cameras offer an extended operating temperature range from -40°C to +71°C and are radiation tolerant, with proven performance for over 60 months in LEO orbits (details under NDA). They feature ruggedized connectors, typically a single 80-pin connector with other options available. Manufacturing adheres to Class 3a PCBs with solder standard IPC J-STD-001GS, and optional conformal board coatings are offered. The designs incorporate flexi-rigid electronics to fit specific Electro-Optical (EO) space systems, customized mechanics with space industry recognized conformal coatings, vented screws where necessary, and options for bonding/staking material. They also include flat front or removable lens mounts and advanced video enhancement and signal processing features for optimizing image quality and real-time output.