--- title: "Spacecraft and payloads: Space and | Nexus Observatory" description: "Spacecraft and payloads, inside Space and satellite systems: multispectral optical imagers, hyperspectral imagers, synthetic aperture radar (X, C…" url: https://observatory.global/space/spacecraft-and-payloads/ publisher: Nexus Observatory Inc. updated: 2026-10-29 --- [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/) / [Space and satellite systems](https://observatory.global/space/) / **Spacecraft and payloads** # Buses and optical, radar and RF payload classes. Spacecraft and payloads, inside Space and satellite systems: multispectral optical imagers, hyperspectral imagers, synthetic aperture radar (X, C, L band), thermal infrared and fire detection and more. Every item is traced to its specification, from CEOS Analysis Ready Data: Surface Reflectance to ISO 19115-1 (metadata), and runs on the open Observatory Protocol. [Plan with us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Architecture [The protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/specification/) **Technologies**: 9 **At the frontier**: 0 **Protocol functions**: 5 of 8 **Industries served**: 10 Reference design, drawn to scale · drag to turn · hover a part **01** What it is ## Earth observation payload classes. The space segment end to end: orbits and constellations, spacecraft buses, communications and Earth observation payloads, inter-satellite links, tracking and command, space safety, launch, and the licensing and filings that let a system operate over a site. Each technology below carries what it is, what we do with it, and the standard it is drawn against. Satellite and space systems ### Multispectral optical imagers Visible to shortwave-infrared imagers for land cover, vegetation, water and infrastructure monitoring. We design and integrate. CEOS Analysis Ready Data: Surface Reflectance · ISO 19115-1 (metadata) Satellite and space systems ### Hyperspectral imagers Hundreds of narrow bands that separate materials, minerals, crop stress and pollutants. We design and integrate. CEOS Analysis Ready Data framework · CCSDS 123.0-B (multispectral and hyperspectral compression) Satellite and space systems ### Synthetic aperture radar (X, C, L band) Day-night, all-weather imaging for flooding, ice, ground deformation and maritime monitoring. We design and integrate. CEOS Analysis Ready Data: Normalised Radar Backscatter · ITU RR Art. 5 (EESS active allocations) Satellite and space systems ### Thermal infrared and fire detection Thermal bands for wildfire detection, surface temperature, urban heat and industrial monitoring. We design and integrate. CEOS Analysis Ready Data: Surface Temperature Satellite and space systems ### Atmospheric and greenhouse gas sounders Spectrometers and sounders measuring methane, CO2, aerosols, temperature and humidity profiles. We design and integrate. WMO OSCAR (observing systems capability review) · WMO WIGOS Satellite and space systems ### GNSS radio occultation and reflectometry Small receivers that turn GNSS signals into atmospheric profiles, sea-surface wind and soil moisture data. We design and integrate. WMO WIGOS (radio occultation in the global observing system) Satellite and space systems ### Space-based AIS and ADS-B reception Reception of public vessel and aircraft broadcasts beyond terrestrial range for safety and situational awareness. We design and integrate. Rec. ITU-R M.1371 (AIS) · RTCA DO-260B (1090 MHz ADS-B) Satellite and space systems ### RF spectrum sensing from orbit Payloads that map spectrum occupancy and locate interference sources to support spectrum management. We design and integrate. ITU RR Art. 15 (interference) · ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring Satellite and space systems ### Lidar and radar altimetry Ranging instruments for topography, forest structure, ice thickness and water levels. We design and integrate. CEOS Analysis Ready Data framework **02** Architecture ## Where it sits, and what it speaks. Spacecraft and payloads draws on 3 domains and 24 layers of the spectrum; the highlighted layers carry this area. It speaks 5 of the protocol's 8 core functions. Orbits and constellations 8 Spacecraft buses and platforms 9 Communications payloads, NTN and direct-to-device 9 Inter-satellite and space-to-ground links 7 Earth observation payload classes 10 Tracking, telemetry and command and space safety 9 Launch, licensing and regulation 8 Frontier and research 6 Gateways and teleports 8 User terminals 9 Baseband, modems and software-defined radio 8 Ground-station-as-a-service and antenna networks 7 CCSDS protocol stacks 9 Mission control and flight dynamics 7 Data downlink, processing and distribution 8 Earth station spectrum coordination and interference 7 01**Join** Identity, attestation quote, signed policy. 02**Admit** Admitted for a stated scope, nothing wider. 03**Describe** What, where, how and by whom, with calibration. 04**Time** One clock across the grid, with its error bound. 05**Observe** Every value with quality and provenance. 06**Qualify** Tested against the specification, state on record. 07**Federate** Signed exchange across grids and trust domains. 08**Orchestrate** Software and configuration by signed plan. **03** On the grid ## Every site joins one observing grid. The open networks on the grid today, over real relief and the geodesic cells we count them into, filtered to the space domain this area serves. A site built here enrols into the same grid. **04** In the field ## Where this runs, sector by sector. 6 deployment scenarios from the sector research that rely on spacecraft and payloads. [Government and public safety Deployable communications and sensing for incident commandA cell on wheels with satellite backhaul, mesh telemetry and environment nodes at the incident base.](https://observatory.global/sectors/public-safety/) [Development and humanitarian School connectivity with a school observatorySatellite or fixed wireless, school Wi-Fi, an open connectivity probe and an optional station.](https://observatory.global/sectors/humanitarian/) [Development and humanitarian Displacement-site connectivity and sensingPoint-to-multipoint wireless, satellite backhaul, solar and water-point sensors with protection safeguards.](https://observatory.global/sectors/humanitarian/) [Scientific Ocean and coastal low-cost buoy arraysSatellite-backhauled wave buoys accepted in a national programme trial.](https://observatory.global/sectors/scientific/) [Transport Highway corridor mobile coverage for safetySmall cells and satellite backhaul along unserved roads.](https://observatory.global/sectors/transport/) [Government and public safety National GBON surface and upper-air networkWMO-grade stations reporting through WIS 2.0, funded through the systematic-observations financing pathway.](https://observatory.global/sectors/public-safety/) **05** Open and enterprise ## Open by default. Enterprise by contract. The open counterpart lives on the main site for anyone to read and run. The enterprise service is designed, deployed and operated with you, under contract. Open, on the main site - Orbit and pass methods - Payload class catalogue - Ground-station interfaces on the protocol Enterprise, on this site - Mission and payload integration - Tasking and downlink services - Non-terrestrial backhaul for remote sites **06** The rest of the line ## Space and satellite systems, area by area. [Space and satellite systems Constellations and orbitsLEO, MEO and GEO, sized to revisit and coverage.](https://observatory.global/space/constellations-and-orbits/) [Space and satellite systems NTN and direct-to-device3GPP non-terrestrial networks, from orbit to handset.](https://observatory.global/space/ntn-and-direct-to-device/) [Space and satellite systems Tasking and downlinkRequest, schedule, receive and process: one chain.](https://observatory.global/space/tasking-and-downlink/) [Space and satellite systems Space safetyTracking, telemetry and command, conjunction awareness.](https://observatory.global/space/space-safety/) [Space and satellite systems Licensing and spectrumFilings, coordination and earth-station rules, by country.](https://observatory.global/space/licensing-and-spectrum/) ## Bring us the site. Survey, design, deployment and operation for spacecraft and payloads. The form names who receives your details. [Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) [contact@observatory.global](mailto:contact@observatory.global?subject=Space%20and%20satellite%20systems%3A%20Spacecraft%20and%20payloads) [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/)**Space and satellite systems** . From orbit to the ground, on one protocol.[Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Space and satellite systems - [Constellations and orbits](https://observatory.global/space/constellations-and-orbits/) - [Spacecraft and payloads](https://observatory.global/space/spacecraft-and-payloads/) - [NTN and direct-to-device](https://observatory.global/space/ntn-and-direct-to-device/) - [Tasking and downlink](https://observatory.global/space/tasking-and-downlink/) - [Space safety](https://observatory.global/space/space-safety/) - [Licensing and spectrum](https://observatory.global/space/licensing-and-spectrum/) Technologies - [Orbits and constellations](https://observatory.global/technologies/satellite/orbits-and-constellations/) - [Spacecraft buses and platforms](https://observatory.global/technologies/satellite/spacecraft-buses-and-platforms/) - [Gateways and teleports](https://observatory.global/technologies/ground/gateways-and-teleports/) - [User terminals](https://observatory.global/technologies/ground/user-terminals/) - [Platforms and orbits](https://observatory.global/technologies/eo/platforms-and-orbits/) - [Optical, spectral and thermal sensors](https://observatory.global/technologies/eo/optical-spectral-and-thermal-sensors/) Industries - [Public safety](https://observatory.global/industries/public-safety/) - [Humanitarian](https://observatory.global/industries/humanitarian/) - [Climate](https://observatory.global/industries/climate/) - [Nature](https://observatory.global/industries/nature/) - [Oceans](https://observatory.global/industries/oceans/) - [Agriculture](https://observatory.global/industries/agriculture/) - [Telecom](https://observatory.global/industries/telecom/) Service platforms - [Observatory Protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/) - [Protocol & Grid](https://observatory.global/grid-services/) - [Software](https://observatory.global/software/) - [Hardware & power](https://observatory.global/hardware/) - [Sensors & instruments](https://observatory.global/sensors/) - [Connectivity](https://observatory.global/connectivity/) - [Edge compute & AI](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/) © 2026 Nexus Observatory Inc. 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