Jena-Optronik GmbH received the order for the MultiSpectral-Imager from the Canadian company MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates LTD (MDA), which is the general contractor for Rapid Eye AG. The MultiSpectral-Imager (MSI) is the main payload of the Rapid Eye satellites. Jena-Optronik GmbH is responsible for the development and manufacturing of the MSI. The five spectral channels of the MSI instrument will are designed for retrieving agriculture and cartographic information. Jena-Optronik GmbH, based in Jena, Germany, will supply multispectral cameras and dedicated on-board data processing systems..
The Focal Plane Unit (FPU) is part of a MSI based on pushbroom CCD line imager for space application. Parts of the FPU are the Focal Plate Array (FPA) and the Front End Electronics (FEE). The FEE contains the complete chain of the Analog-to-Digital interface. The Department of Optical Information Systems (OS) of DLR is responsible for the development and testing of the FEE electronics.