Space Astronomy

Space science is at the core of understanding the Universe's origins and future. From the earliest signs of the Big Bang to the effects of solar activity on the Earth, the detailed scientific information and images obtained with Teledyne Space Imaging’s CCD and CMOS sensors are helping us understand more about our surroundings. A vital component of this science is the ability to capture spectroscopic data, and clear images across the visible, UV, and NIR spectrum.

For over 30 years, Teledyne Space Imaging has collaborated with the highest profile space science projects. Missions include the upgrade of the Hubble Space Telescope, which uses Teledyne Space Imaging sensors to look further into the Universe than ever before, and the detection of new extrasolar planets with NASA's Kepler mission. Additionally, Teledyne sensors in spectroscopic instruments on the Mars Reconnaissance Rover detected key elements necessary to support life on Mars, and ESA's GAIA mission mapped over 1.8 billion objects in the Milky Way using 106 Teledyne sensors to equip its focal plane, the largest ever to be flown in space.

Teledyne Space Imaging CCDs and infrared MCT focal plane arrays are found in almost every space borne telescope for outer space astronomy missions. The instruments that use our imaging technology played a crucial role in capturing data and images that have found billions of hidden planets and revealed, according to NASA's Kepler Space Telescope mission, that there are more planets than stars. 

An essential aspect of this science is the ability to capture detailed images and spectroscopic data across the X-ray, visible, UV, NIR and infrared (IR) spectrum. During 30 years of collaborating with the highest profile space science projects, the detailed scientific information and images obtained with Teledyne Space Imaging's CCD and CMOS sensors and IR FPAs are helping us understand more about the Universe. Key enabling device characteristics that unlock the performance needed for these missions include low noise, very low dark current, deep depleted MCT, large pixel sizes, backside illumination and backthinned detector substrates.

Whilst CMOS Imaging Sensors (CIS) capabilities are expanding for space borne applications, a range of technologies and techniques are applicable to support future space science missions, including custom sensor design in any wavelength. Teledyne Space Imaging provides the highest performance and optimisation with custom package solutions and assemblies.

●      Space proven large format CCD arrays

●      Highest performance large format Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) or HgCdTe FPAs

●      Custom and standard CMOS Image Sensors (CIS)

●      Flight proven star trackers

●      Space qualified

●      Radiation tolerant

●      In-house Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) grown MCT

●      State of the art CCD fabrication facility

●      In-house backthinning process