Czech hyperspectral technology captures UV meteor spectrum from the stratosphere for the first time

A Czech research consortium has achieved a world-class milestone: for the first time, a meteor’s ultraviolet spectrum was captured directly from the stratosphere. The measurement, obtained during MORANA balloon flights, confirms that Czech hyperspectral technology is ready for future space missions.

HiLASE in the Project: Engineering the Optical Subsystem of the FREYA Hyperspectral Camera

The HiLASE Centre of the Institute of Physics contributes to the project through the design and development of the optical subsystem of the FREYA hyperspectral camera, intended for future CubeSat-based satellite constellations. The system uses a refractive objective with a transmission diffraction grating and represents a fully Czech solution for observing meteors, re-entry monitoring, space-debris characterization, and atmospheric-phenomena studies.

MORANA Stratospheric Missions: In-Flight Validation of the Technology

The MORANA flights (27–30 km altitude) carried video, radio, and hyperspectral payloads. The UV spectrum of a Geminid bolide revealed numerous metallic emission features invisible from ground-based observations, confirming the unique value of UV observations.

Moving Forward: Preparing for Upcoming Space Missions

The development roadmap now proceeds toward two space missions: a technology demonstrator on the IOSLAB platform (Space Rider, SAB Aerospace) and the operational

integration of FREYA into the DOME system on the SATen satellite (Brno University of Technology). These missions will validate the instrument in orbit and support the creation of future hyperspectral sensor networks.

Consortium and Partners

The following organizations are participating in the development:

J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, esc Aerospace, Valašské Meziříčí Observatory, HiLASE Center of the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, VZLU Aerospace, Spacemanic, Brno University of Technology, PALS, Lightigo, CEITEC, SAB Aerospace, and others.