Product category:
Temperature sensors
News Release from: Sofradir
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 26 June 2006
IR detector is ordered for Mercury
mission
The European Space Agency has selected Sofradir to develop a near-infra-red detector for its space mission to Mercury.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Sofradir to develop a new, near-infra-red detector for the visible infra-red imaging spectrometer (VN-IMS), a measurement instrument that will be used in BepiColombo, the ESA's space mission to Mercury The aim of BepiColombo is to provide two Mercury orbiting spacecraft, the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) that will gather data about the planet's surface
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 31 Mar 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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The VN-IMS is part of the proposed MPO payload, which will simultaneously deliver images of the features of Mercury's surface as well as spectra over a minimum wavelength range of 0.5 to 2.2um.
The role of Sofradir's short-wave IR detector (SWIR) will be to capture data for the study of Mercury mineralogy.
The short-wave IR detector (SWIR) that Sofradir will develop, 500 x 256 with 30um pitch, will sense radiation both in visible and short-wave IR ranges.
This new detector will cover detection in a wavelength spectrum from 0.4 to 2.3um on a single detector, the first of its kind to be made available in Europe.
"We are really thrilled about being selected by the ESA for this new study", says Philippe Bensussan, CEO at Sofradir.
"The BepiColombo project will enable us to further leverage our experience in space applications and enlarge the panel of innovative solutions that we offer our customers in visible and SWIR ranges".
For this space project, Sofradir will be extending the sensitivity of its SWIR range to visible range, which is a breakthrough in hyperspectral application.
Previously, this kind of application needed two detectors - one visible detector for the panchromatic instrument and one SWIR detector for infra-red spectrum.
"With this new generation, both visible and SWIR ranges can be sensed in a single detector, enabling an all important reduction in system cost", explained Philippe Chorier, Space Project Program Manager at Sofradir.
Sofradir currently has IR detectors deployed in the military surveillance space program, Helios IIA, and in Venus Express, which reached Venusian orbit in April 2006.
The BepiColombo contract is a first step for Sofradir in the programme's definition study process.
Delivery of the sample IR detector is required early 2007.
The actual BepiColombo launch date to Mercury is expected around 2013.
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