The hyperspectral thermal imaging instrument for technology demonstration funded by NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office under the In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies program requires focal plane array with reasonably good performance at a low cost. The instrument is designed to fit in a 6U CubeSat platform for a low-Earth orbit. It will collect data on hydrological parameters and Earth surface temperature for agricultural remote sensing. The long wavelength infrared type-II strain layer superlattices barrier infrared detector focal plane array is chosen for this mission. With the driving requirement dictated by the power consumption of the cryocooler and signal-noise-ratio, cut-off wavelengths and dark current are utilized to model instrument operating temperature. Many focal plane arrays are fabricated and characterised, and the best performing focal plane array that fulfils the requirements is selected. The spectral band, dark current and 8–9.4 m pass band quantum efficiency of the candidate focal plane array are: 8–10.7 m, 2.1∙10−5 A/cm2, and 47%, respectively. The corresponding noise equivalent difference temperature and operability are 30 mK and 99.7%, respectively. Anti-reflective coating is deposited on the focal plane array surface to enhance the quantum efficiency and to reduce the interference pattern due to an absorption layer parallel surfaces cladding material.