Optical Remote Sensing for Deep Space Exploration

Dear Colleagues,

As humanity’s reach extends beyond lunar orbit to asteroids, Mars, and the outer planets, optical remote sensing remains the premier tool for deciphering the secrets of these distant worlds. From high-resolution imaging that maps geological histories to spectroscopy that identifies volatile compositions and organic molecules, optical techniques provide the foundational data for understanding planetary formation, astrobiology, and resource potential. The recent proliferation of CubeSats, advancements in autonomous navigation, and the deployment of next-generation instruments (such as LiDAR and hyperspectral imagers) are pushing the boundaries of what can be observed and analyzed in situ and from orbital platforms. This research area is of critical importance, as it directly enables the scientific return of deep space missions, supports landing site selection and hazard avoidance, and lays the groundwork for future human exploration and in situ resource utilization.

This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge advancements in optical remote sensing applied to deep space exploration. We invite contributions that highlight novel instrumentation, innovative data processing algorithms, and groundbreaking scientific results derived from recent and upcoming missions to destinations including the Moon, Mars, the asteroid belt, and the outer solar system. Our goal is to create a collection that reflects the current state of the art, from sensor design to high-level scientific interpretation, addressing the unique challenges posed by extreme distances, limited bandwidth, and harsh environmental conditions. This subject aligns closely with the scope of Remote Sensing, emphasizing the development and application of remote sensing technologies across diverse fields, including planetary science and space exploration. By focusing on optical techniques in deep space contexts, this Special Issue advances the journal’s mission to publish innovative research that pushes the boundaries of observation and analysis beyond Earth.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and technical notes including, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Design and development of optical remote sensing payloads for deep space exploration (hyperspectral imagers, multispectral cameras, laser altimeters/LiDAR, visible and near-infrared spectrometers, Raman spectrometers, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instruments, infrared thermal imagers, etc.);
• Radiometric and geometric calibration of optical remote sensing instruments, including pre-launch characterization, in-flight calibration, and validation methods under deep space conditions;
• Autonomous optical remote sensing navigation sensors and their calibration and application in precision landing, rendezvous and docking, and hazard avoidance;
• Advanced processing algorithms for optical remote sensing data, such as image restoration, spectral unmixing, 3D terrain reconstruction, and Raman/LIBS spectral analysis;
• Performance evaluation of optical remote sensing instruments and long-term stability monitoring in extreme deep space environments;
• Integration of optical remote sensing instruments with spacecraft platforms and in-orbit operational strategies for deep space applications;
• Scientific applications of optical remote sensing data, serving planetary geology, mineralogy, volatile detection, organic matter identification, and landing site selection;
• In situ multi-technique integration and synergy with optical remote sensing, combining Raman spectroscopy, LIBS, near-infrared spectroscopy, optical microscopic imaging, and other in situ analytical techniques to achieve multi-dimensional joint analysis of material composition, microstructure, and mineralogy;
• Results from optical remote sensing payloads in recent deep space missions over the past five years (e.g., Mars 2020, MMX, Chang'e series, Tianwen series, etc.), covering instrument development, calibration, and scientific applications.

Prof. Dr. Bin Xue
Prof. Dr. Weiming Xu
Prof. Dr. Yiyi Zhao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• optical remote sensing instrumentation
• radiometric and geometric calibration
• hyperspectral spectroscopy
• laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
• Raman spectroscopy
• autonomous optical navigation
• in situ and orbital remote sensing
• deep space exploration missions
• sensor validation and performance evaluation
• multi-technique integration