Custom Solutions
Space, science and industrial applications
Camera Subassemblies
Components for customised systems
Space, science and industrial applications
Components for customised systems
The C3D CubeSat Camera captures high-quality images from space for mission monitoring and analysis.
Designed for CubeSat applications, it features a modular architecture that supports up to three CMOS sensors for multiple fields of view or focal lengths.
With a proven space-flight heritage and a 100% success rate since 2014, it offers reliable, customisable imaging for cutting-edge space missions.
enabling customisability.
offering rapid, broad area coverage.
delivers high quality images regardless of distance.
adaptable for individual customers application.
maintain perfect image quality with no data-loss enabling the storage and transmission of images with limited on-board resources.
wide-field imaging of Earth’s surface for monitoring land, oceans, vegetation, and weather.
capturing images of solar panels, antennas, booms, or CubeSat deployable after launch to verify successful deployment.
low-cost imaging payload for student CubeSats, offering proven, flight-ready equipment.
The C3D imaging platform offers a versatile optical configuration, enabling mission designers to combine multiple camera heads on a single imager board to achieve specialised imaging geometries such as stereo views, multi-angle capture, or differentiated focal arrangements. Its flexible sensor-to-optics interface allows each camera head to be equipped with its own lens assembly, supporting customised fields of view and mission-specific optical requirements.
In addition to the standard hardware, XCAM Scientific provides full custom-design and R&D support, enabling tailored optical layouts, alternative sensor choices, and bespoke mechanical integration for missions that require unique imaging capabilities.
Image: AlSat Nano Mission, Open University
Image: AlSat Nano Mission, Open University
Image: AlSat Nano Mission, Open University
C3D is designed for CubeSats (1U and larger) and small satellites needing a flight‑proven, compact imaging payload. Typical mission uses include Earth observation (wide‑field imagery), spacecraft self‑monitoring (e.g. deployment, health check), radiation monitoring and experiment imaging.
C3D supports up to three camera heads per imager board. These cameras can be configured differently (e.g. wide-field vs narrow-field, colour vs black-and-white) and/or coaligned — enabling stereo imaging, different fields-of-view (near vs far), or redundancy depending on mission requirements.
The standard version uses a 1.3 MP CMOS sensor with 5.3 µm pixels and a COTS 9.6 mm F/3.0 lens. From a 650 km orbit, this yields a ground sample distance (GSD) of ~360 m for the standard wide-field option. Colour (RGB) or black-and-white imaging is supported; other optics variants may be available on request.
C3D’s imager board measures ~9.5 × 9.1 × 2.7 cm, with a mass of about 85 g (board + one WFI camera). It consumes low power) around 845 mW peak in the standard configuration) making it suitable for resource-constrained CubeSats. Data/control interfaces: I²C or SPI.
Yes – C3D has flown successfully on real CubeSat missions such as UKube‑1 (2014) and AlSat Nano, delivering images and, in later missions with the upgraded controller (C3D2), colour imagery and housekeeping/radiation‑monitoring data. Its flight heritage is documented, and it is considered a TRL 9 (flight‑qualified) product.
Contact our sales team for further details, a quotation, or to discuss development opportunities.
2 Stone Circle Road
Round Spinney Industrial Estate
Northampton, NN3 8RF, UK
XCAM Scientific
2 Stone Circle Road
Round Spinney Industrial Estate
Northampton, NN3 8RF, UK
