Earth observation missions generate vast amounts of data, but a significant fraction of that data often has limited or no value when cloud cover obscures the target area. In such cases, downlinking these images wastes bandwidth, onboard storage, and operational time.

The Craft Prospect Cloud Detector provides onboard cloud awareness, enabling spacecraft to make informed decisions before data is collected or transmitted. By imaging the Earth ahead of the satellite, the Cloud Detector identifies, classifies, and maps cloud cover to deliver up to four minutes of forecast directly to the payload computer.

With a low SWaP design for CubeSat constraints, the Cloud Detector delivers strong return on investment for missions seeking to ensure optimal utilisation of onboard resources, remove downlink transmission bottlenecks, and improve overall mission productivity.