FREYA (camera)
| Operator |  Czech Academy of Sciences |
|---|---|
| Instrument type | Hyperspectral camera |
| Function | Meteor observation |
| Host spacecraft | |
| Launch date | 2028 (planned) |
FREYA is a scientific hyperspectral camera under development by the Czech Academy of Sciences. It is intended for use on small satellites in low Earth orbit for observation and ultraviolet spectroscopic analysis of meteors in Earth atmosphere, as well as reentry events of spacecraft and space debris. A prototype of the instrument was successfully tested in 2024 on a series of high-altitude balloon flights (Morana 1 to 3) over Slovakia during which it managed to capture the first ever stratospheric UV spectrum of a meteor. The data were later used to identify the meteor as part of the Geminid meteor shower and to triangulate its trajectory. FREYA is expected to be tested in low Earth orbit no earlier than 2028 aboard the Czech CubeSat mission SATen, and possibly also on the ESA's Space Rider spacecraft.
See also
- List of Czech satellites
- European Fireball Network – International astronomy organization based in Central Europe
References
- ↑ "Compact optical hyperspectral camera FREYA for CubeSat missions". 2023.
- ↑ "Compact optical hyperspectral camera FREYA II for CubeSat missions". Heyrovský Institute of the CAS. Archived from the original on 2026-10-09. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- 1 2 "Karolina Macúchová: We won the space lottery. Our hyperspectral cameras will advance space research". vedavyzkum.cz. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- ↑ "A world first in atmospheric research: The first ultraviolet spectrum of a meteor from the stratosphere | News | May 12, 2026 | Institute of Space Systems | University of Stuttgart". www.irs.uni-stuttgart.de. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- 1 2 "Czech hyperspectral technology captures UV meteor spectrum from the stratosphere for the first time". HiLASE.
- ↑ "Capturing the UV light of a burning meteor? Done. Read two interviews from HiLASE | FZU". www.fzu.cz. 2026-07-01. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- ↑ "An international research team led by the J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry has, for the first time, recorded and analysed the ultraviolet spectrum of a meteor directly from the… | Institute of Space Systems". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- 1 2 společnost, Česká astronomická (2026-04-05). "Česká technologie pro sledování meteorů z vesmíru pořídila světově unikátní záznam jasného meteoru ze stratosférického balónu". ČAS (in Czech). Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- ↑ "Česká technologie hyperspektrální kamery pořídila unikátní záznam padající hvězdy". www.novinky.cz (in Czech). 2026-04-24. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
- ↑ "Unikátní záznam padající hvězdy pořídili čeští vědci". techfocus.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2026-10-09.