This paper presents a new concept of frequency comb LIDAR instrument for atmospheric CO2 mapping. The French space agency (CNES) has initiated the development of an airborne proof of concept. The main originality of this instrument lies in the use of two probe combs crossing the same atmospheric path and used for self-phase correction. This technique, named Double Heterodyne Detection (DHD), allows us to coherently average interferograms beyond the coherence time of the laser source. The LIDAR airborne instrument is designed for real-conditions atmospheric CO2 measurements at 1.572 μm and mainly relies on commercial telecom components. We present experimental results on a breadboard laboratory version of the instrument and our data processing method. Then, we extend the study to a space instrument and provide a first estimation of radiometric performances.
Thanks to a large set of available photocathodes with first in class QE, high gain, high collection efficiency, high dynamic range while keeping low dark count rate and single photon resolution capability with excellent timing, MCP-PMTs have emerged as candidates for LIDAR receivers. We present results of Ageing tests and Radiation tests carried out with Photonis and Airbus Defence & Space on High QE, and High linearity MCP-PMT for UV LIDAR receivers. Ageing of the photocathode is usually due to electron-induced ion feedback and molecule desorption from the MCP and anode, causing degradation of the photocathode layer leading to a progressive loss of QE related to the quantity of electron charges generated along lifetime. Expected Coulomb charges generated along a typical and worst-case mission were estimated from the atmosphere profiles. Thanks to a design change of the MCP-PMT and the implementation of Long-Lifetime MCP technology, ageing of the photocathode was drastically reduced. The new design showed no Quantum Efficiency nor Collection Efficiency degradation up to 20 C. Proton radiation tests were performed to evaluate false signal generated, end-of-life impact on performance, loss of transmission depending on the photocathode glass substrate as well as cathodoluminescence and photoluminescence at the photocathode. Quantum Efficiency, Collection Efficiency, PHD shape, Gain, and Linearity were found to be unchanged for fluences of 5x1011 p+/cm² with 60 MeV protons. Only small increase of DCR for about 120 cps/cm² was recorded about 8 weeks after the radiation.
CNES (French Space Agency) has developed a dedicated test bench to demonstrate its solution of digital stabilization for relaxing the AOCS constraints for high-resolution Earth observation Time of Delay Integration (TDI) imaging, based on a CNES patent1. TDI sensors are sensitive to high frequency attitude disturbances which may induce blurring effects when increasing TDI stages number and thus exposure time. A solution to relax the microvibration constraints (or no longer constrain the number of lines to be accumulated) is to compute, in real-time, the shift between each line and coregister them before summation. CNES solution includes a motion sensor dedicated to shift measurements, a fast realtime algorithm to compute the shift between two consecutives images delivered by the motion sensor, a multi-frame TDI sensor, and an algorithm to resample images delivered by sub-TDI devices using computed shifts, before summing them up in order to obtain the final image. The optimization study of the motion sensor and the performances of the gradientbased algorithm on these images have been already presented in a previous paper2. In this paper, we describe the dedicated test bench which contains each part of the presented chain and the obtained performances.
The PLEIADES-HR Earth observing satellites, under CNES development, combine a 0.7m resolution panchromatic channel, and a multispectral channel allowing a 2.8 m resolution, in 4 spectral bands. The 2 satellites will be placed on a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 695 km. The camera operates in push broom mode, providing images across a 20 km swath. This paper focuses on the specifications, design and performance of the TDI detectors developed by e2v technologies under CNES contract for the panchromatic channel. Design drivers, derived from the mission and satellite requirements, architecture of the sensor and measurement results for key performances of the first prototypes are presented.
The first flight model PLEIADES high resolution instrument under Thales Alenia Space development, on behalf of CNES, is currently in integration and test phases.
Based on the SED HI detection unit concept, PLEIADES detection unit has been fully qualified before the integration at telescope level. The main radiometric performances have been measured on engineering and first flight models.
This paper presents the results of performances obtained on the both models. After a recall of the SED HI concept, the design and performances of the main elements (charge coupled detectors, focal plane and video processing unit), detection unit radiometric performances are presented and compared to the instrument specifications for the panchromatic and multispectral bands. The performances treated are the following:
- video signal characteristics,
- dark signal level and dark signal non uniformity,
- photo-response non uniformity,
- non linearity and differential non linearity,
- temporal and spatial noises regarding system definitions
PLEIADES detection unit allows tuning of different functions: reference and sampling time positioning, anti-blooming level, gain value, TDI line number. These parameters are presented with their associated criteria of optimisation to achieve system radiometric performances and their sensitivities on radiometric performances.
All the results of the measurements performed by Thales Alenia Space on the PLEIADES detection units demonstrate the high potential of the SED HI concept for Earth high resolution observation system allowing optimised performances at instrument and satellite levels.
This paper describes the activities managed by CNES (French National Space Agency) for the development of focal planes for next generation of optical high resolution Earth observation satellites, in low sun-synchronous orbit. CNES has launched a new programme named OTOS, to increase the level of readiness (TRL) of several key technologies for high resolution Earth observation satellites. The OTOS programme includes several actions in the field of detection and focal planes: a new generation of CCD and CMOS image sensors, updated analog front-end electronics and analog-to-digital converters. The main features that must be achieved on focal planes for high resolution Earth Observation, are: readout speed, signal to noise ratio at low light level, anti-blooming efficiency, geometric stability, MTF and line of sight stability. The next steps targeted are presented in comparison to the in-flight measured performance of the PLEIADES satellites launched in 2011 and 2012. The high resolution panchromatic channel is still based upon Backside illuminated (BSI) CCDs operated in Time Delay Integration (TDI). For the multispectral channel, the main evolution consists in moving to TDI mode and the competition is open with the concurrent development of a CCD solution versus a CMOS solution. New CCDs will be based upon several process blocks under evaluation on the e2v 6 inches BSI wafer manufacturing line. The OTOS strategy for CMOS image sensors investigates on one hand custom TDI solutions within a similar approach to CCDs, and, on the other hand, investigates ways to take advantage of existing performance of off-the-shelf 2D arrays CMOS image sensors. We present the characterization results obtained from test vehicles designed for custom TDI operation on several CIS technologies and results obtained before and after radiation on snapshot 2D arrays from the CMOSIS CMV family.
Microbolometers Focal Plane Arrays (FPA) are uncooled infrared arrays suitable for the detection in the 8-14μm spectral
range. Standard products show attractive performances and are available at low cost. They can be consistently used for
space missions on microsatellites. A microbolometers focal plane array (a 640x480 microbolometer array with a pitch of
25 μm) is foreseen to be used on the Mistigri mission proposed by CNES (French National Space Agency). The
scientific objectives of the mission are the monitoring of water conditions of agricultural crops and natural vegetation.
These objectives can be reached thanks to observations in the thermal infrared wavelength. Mistigri is now at an early
stage of development (preliminary definition study). CNES has started a technological evaluation on the
microbolometers array as a risk mitigation action. This technological evaluation plan includes radiation tests (ionizing
dose, displacement damage, and heavy ions), lifetest, thermal cycling and vibrations and shocks. At the same time we
have addressed fine performances of the microbolometers arrays in order to optimize instrument design and
performances.
The PLEIADES-HR Earth Observation satellites will combine a high resolution panchromatic channel -- 0.7 m at nadir -- and a multispectral channel allowing a 2.8 m resolution. This paper presents the main specifications, design and performances of a 52 microns pitch quadrilinear CCD sensor developed by ATMEL under CNES contract, for the multispectral channel of the PLEIADES-HR instrument. The monolithic CCD device includes four lines of 1500 pixels, each line dedicated to a narrow spectral band within blue to near infra red spectrum. The design of the photodiodes and CCD registers, with larger size than those developed up to now for CNES spaceborne imagers, needed some specific structures to break the large equipotential areas where charge do not flow properly. Results are presented on the options which were experimented to improve sensitivity, maintain transfer efficiency and reduce power dissipation. The four spectral bands are achieved by four stripe filters made by SAGEM-REOSC PRODUCTS on a glass substrate, to be assembled on the sensor window. Line to line spacing on the silicon die takes into account the results of straylight analysis. A mineral layer, with high optical absorption performances is deposited between photosensitive lines to further reduce straylight.
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