Detector heads for Venus
A
Sofradir product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Dec 6, 2005
Sofradir infra-red detector deployed on data channel in the imaging spectrometer to measure ultraviolet and infra-red radiation on Venus Express.
Sofradir's 320x256 MW MCT infra-red detector is being deployed in the SOIR (Solar Occultation Infra-Red) instrument, one of three data channels being used in the imaging spectrometer to measure ultraviolet and infra-red radiation on Venus Express.
Launched in early November, Venus Express is the European Space Agency's first mission to Earth's nearest planet to carry out a more detailed study of Venus's atmosphere.
Using the detector, SOIR will observe Venus's atmosphere at longer infra-red wavelengths.
"We are excited that Sofradir is participating in yet another space adventure," said Philippe Bensussan, CEO of Sofradir.
"Our IR detectors are in operation on Helios IIA, the second-generation military surveillance programme".
Sofradir was given nine months to have the detector for the spectrometer ready, but did it in six months.
"We took one of our standard mid-wave MCT IR detectors, reworked the cooler to be space-grade, and adapted the width of the spectral waveband to meet specifications," said Philippe Tribolet, Vice President of Research and Development and Technologies.
Venus Express is scheduled to reach Venus's orbit in April 2006.
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