# CubeSat Imaging Payload Design for Environmental Monitoring of Greenland
## 2 Materials and Methods  
To define the hardware and software requirements along with the payload design and select the suitable cameras, we used the V-model software design methodology, which is a graphical representation of a system development life-cycle [15]. The V-model summarizes the main steps in conjunction with the corresponding deliverables at each stage and the way to prove that all the requirements will be satisfied. It describes the activities to be performed and the results that must be produced during device development. In short, the left side of the \"V\" represents the breakdown of requirements and the creation of system specifications. The right side of the \"V\" represents the integration of parts and their validation [16]. In this scenario, we modified some stages to match the satellite development and reduce the complexity of the V-model. Figure 1 shows the V-model designed for this project.  
The CubeSat imaging system for environmental monitoring of Greenland aims to deploy a compact and efficient satellite payload equipped with three specialized cameras to capture data about the Greenlandic environment. This project combines cutting-edge imaging technology, data processing, and satellite communication to provide insights into Greenland's changing climate and environmental conditions. These key components are presented as follows:  
* Wide Field Camera: The wide-field camera is designed for panoramic imaging and captures broad overviews of Greenland's landscapes. This camera provides context and an overall understanding of the geographical features [17].
* Telephoto RGB Camera: Focused on high-resolution RGB imaging, the telephoto camera captures detailed visual data of glaciers in Greenland, with the goal of creating time series of 3D models of glaciers by photogrammetry. This camera is therefore instrumental in monitoring changes in land cover, identifying potential environmental shifts, and assessing the impact of human activities [2].
* Infrared Camera: The infrared camera measures surface sea temperatures around Greenland. This crucial data help in studying the temperature variations, detecting potential anomalies, and understanding the thermal dynamics of the sea and rivers around glaciers [7].
* Image Processing Unit: The image processor unit is responsible for capture and real-time processing of the images. As well as traditional image processing tasks, such as cropping or compression, an ML model can be used to identify and tag relevant images for transmission or deletion. This intelligent filtering minimizes the amount of data sent to the ground station, optimizing bandwidth usage [18].  
Given the harsh environmental conditions in space, the project adheres to strict benchmarking and requirements, including:  
Figure 1: V-model methodology applied to the payload design. Process: \((\rightarrow)\). Iteration: \((\leftarrow-)\).  
* Temperature Resilience: The entire system, including cameras and the image processor unit, must operate efficiently within a wide temperature range to withstand the heat and cold of Low Earth Orbit.
* Data Integrity and Security: The image processor unit should ensure the integrity and security of processed data, as any anomalies or errors in the collected information could compromise the scientific accuracy of the project.
* Power Efficiency: All components must be energy-efficient to maximize the instrument's observational time whilst keeping within the power budget of the satellite.
* Communication Reliability: The communication system must be robust and reliable, allowing seamless transmission of image data to the radio module without interrupting other on board communications.