Academic Development and Space Operations of a Multispectral Imaging Payload for 1U CubeSats

This paper presents the academic development and on-orbit operation of a multispectral imaging payload for 1U CubeSats. The approach is based on a carousel with bandpass filters driven by a piezoelectric motor that enables image acquisition at different wavelengths using a single sensor. The article details band selection criteria for water color monitoring, optical and mechanical carousel design, software architecture, and pre-flight testing (simulation, vibration, motor and camera characterization). In flight, the piezoelectric motor performed over 1,800 rotations and the payload captured images of Hurricane Iota, with discussions on power consumption, interaction with the passive ADCS, and practical limitations (auto-exposure, UHF data downlink). Design files and resources are shared to facilitate replication, and recommendations are provided for future educational and remote sensing missions in developing countries.