You Can Shoot Photos From Space With Canon’s Imaging Satellite

Canon's Imaging Satellite CE-SAT

For CES 2021 Canon made something rather cool stuff. How about taking pictures from space using Canon’s imaging satellite?

We reported extensively about Canon’s efforts in outer space. The Canon CE-SAT-1 earth-imaging satellite is one of the micro-satellites Canon put into orbit to take imaging data of the earth. For CES 2021 Canon made an interactive showcase, hosted by astronaut Marsha Ivins, of this technology. And the best part is you can take pictures with the cameras on the satellite.

The Canon CE-SAT-1 is equipped with a slightly modified EOS 5D Mark III camera, capable of imaging a ground area of 6 by 4 Kilometers at a resolution of around one meter. Also on board are a 40cm diameter Canon Cassegrain telescope with 3720 mm focal length and a Canon PowerShot S110 for wide-angle pictures.

You can not freely roam, obviously. You can shoot some selected locations, zoom in and out, frame the image, shot your picture. You even get metadata with your photo (coordinates).

To start shooting pictures from space with Canon’s imaging satellite visit Canon’s dedicated microsite.

[via Digital Camera World]

Canon’s CE-SAT-2B Experimental Satellite Successfully Launched Into Space

CE-SAT-2B

Canon’s CE-SAT-2B Earth-imaging satellite has been launched into space without issues.

The Canon CE-SAT-IIB is a microsatellite equipped with middle-size telescope and an ultra-high sensitivity camera to take night images of the Earth. This time three types of cameras are mounted on the satellite, one of them being a mirrorless camera (EOS M100) and another one a compact camera for wide angle images (PowerShot G9X Mark II).

Spaceflight Now reports:

The largest spacecraft on Wednesday’s mission was CE-SAT-2B, an Earth observation satellite for Canon Electronics of Japan.

The 78-pound (35.5-kilogram) spacecraft is Canon’s third microsatellite to launch, following an experimental Earth-imaging station that launched in 2017 on an Indian PSLV rocket.

A follow-on satellite named CE-SAT 1B launched in July on a previous Rocket Lab mission, but it was destroyed when the Electron rocket failed before reaching orbit.

According to Canon, CE-SAT-2B carries three types of cameras to be demonstrated in orbit.

“With the newly developed super high sensitivity camera, CE-SAT-2B is capable of observing the Earth during night time,” Canon said in a press release. “The satellite is equipped with three types of cameras including Canon’s mirrorless camera and compact digital camera.

“CE-SAT-2B will go through a two-year demonstration experiment for forthcoming production of cassegrain reflectors as series,” Canon said.

Thanks Edina for the tip.

Canon Sends Another Satellite Into Space, With High Res Cameras On Board

Satellite

Canon is actively involved in the commercial conquer of space with their own satellite program.

Canon will send a second satellite equipped with an array of EOS 5D Mark III cameras into space, the Canon CE-SAT-IB. The CE-SAT-IB is Canon’s commercial version of the CE-SAT-I, an experimental earth observing microsatellite developed and built by Canon Electronics. The system provides an 1 m ground resolution from a 600 km orbit with a 6 km × 4 km frame size.

The launch will take place in New Zealand on July 4, and is coordinated by by Spaceflight Inc. Spaceflight Inc’s press release:

Canon Electronics Inc. kicks off constellation with first mass production remote sensing microsatellite, CE-SAT-IB, aboard Rocket Lab Electron, with another slated to launch in coming months

SEATTLE – June 16, 2020 — Spaceflight Inc., the leading satellite rideshare and mission management provider, today announced it is managing the launch of Canon Electronics’ CE-SAT-IB imaging satellite on Rocket Lab’s Electron. The mission will lift off from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 at the southern tip of Mahia Peninsula, on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. The launch window opens on July 4 NZT / July 3 UTC.

CE-SAT-IB is a 67 kilogram microsatellite which can resolve 90 centimeter objects on the ground from space. Additionally, Spaceflight is coordinating the launch of another Canon satellite, CE-SAT-IIB, which is slated to lift off after the CE-SAT-IB mission later in 2020, also aboard an Electron. It will carry three cameras with different resolutions and sensitivities.

“We’re looking forward to getting these next generation Canon spacecraft on orbit and helping them kickstart their constellation,” said Curt Blake, CEO and president of Spaceflight. “Our ability to find the most expedient rides to space for our customers is critical, especially when their business plans require a frequent cadence of launches. Offering end-to-end launch services across multiple launch vehicles gives our customers flexibility, along with confidence that we will get them where they want to go, aligned with their schedule.”

This mission, called Pics Or It Didn’t Happen by Rocket Lab, represents Spaceflight’s fourth launch with Rocket Lab in the past twelve months, and follows the successful launches of 10 spacecraft on earlier missions “Make it Rain” (June 2019), “Look Ma No Hands” (August 2019), and “Running Out of Fingers“ (November 2019). While this mission was scheduled to launch earlier this year, it was delayed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Spaceflight has continued to work closely with Canon Electronics, Rocket Lab, and government officials to launch as expeditiously and safely as the conditions allow. Like the previous missions, Spaceflight managed the launch capacity procurement, integration and mission management services for the rideshare spacecraft.

“This launch is very critical for Canon Electronics as we are launching a satellite where we have remarkably increased the ratio of in-house development of components compared to the previous launch,” said Dr. Nobutada Sako, group executive, Satellite Systems Lab, Canon Electronics Inc. “Partnering with Spaceflight on this mission has been very helpful and we look forward to a successful launch of our satellites.” 

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Canon joins private sector in Japan to establish rocket launching sites, report

Ce-sat-i
Image courtesy of Canon

Next step in Canon’s race to the space. Our previous reports about Canon’s space efforts. Canon also build its own micro satellite with Canon EOS 5D Mark III cameras on board.

Nikkei Asian Review reports:

TOKYO — Japan’s first private-sector effort to build rocket-launching facilities is underway as new aerospace legislation paves the way for meeting growth in demand for small observation satellites.

Canon Electronics, a Canon unit, has joined IHI subsidiary IHI Aerospace, construction company Shimizu and the state-owned Development Bank of Japan to establish joint venture New Generation Small Rocket Development Planning. The new company had begun scouting potential sites nationwide by Tuesday, aiming to shorten the list in time to embark on operations in fiscal 2018 at the earliest, following government checks.

The government has led Japanese space development. Launches have generally been at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Tanegashima or Uchinoura space centers in Kagoshima Prefecture in the south.

Read the report at Nikkei Asian Review…