WASHINGTON — The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) said in a July 8 press release they are collaborating on technology applications aimed at developing and deploying a next-generation high-resolution hyperspectral imaging system to be hosted aboard the international space station.

CASIS, based at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will manage the efforts to design, launch and operate the sensor, soliciting innovative proposals from the academic and not-for-profit sectors as well as the commercial market, the organizations said in their joint press release. The release did not say when the solicitation would be released or when the sensor might launch. 

The hyperspectral imager will be used for applications including resource management, humanitarian relief, disaster mitigation, and planning and development, the press release said. 

Portions of the data stream will be made available to academic institutions, the United Nations, government agencies and not-for-profit organizations, according to the release. 

The U.N. Operational Satellite Applications Programme will serve as the lead applications and training entity for the imaging system, the press release said.

Created in response to NASA authorizing legislation in 2010, the nonprofit CASIS manages non-NASA activities aboard the U.S. segment of the international space station.

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Dan Leone is the NASA reporter for SpaceNews, where he also covers other civilian-run U.S. government space programs and a growing number of entrepreneurial space companies. He joined SpaceNews in 2011.Dan earned a bachelor's degree in public communications...