Space applications require image sensors that are tolerant to the harsh radiation conditions outside the earth’s atmosphere. This paper reports about an ongoing optimization experiment for radiation tolerant 4T pixels. The experiment is conducted in a 0.18μm CMOS image sensor process and involves optimization of both the layout and the process technology. The purpose of the experiment is to min...

Observations of the red giant Arcturus (α Boo) obtained with the star tracker on the Wide Field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) satellite during a baseline of 19 successive days in 2000 July-August are analysed. The amplitude spectrum has a significant excess of power at low-frequencies. The highest peak is at ∼ 4.1 μHz (2.8 d), which is in agreement with previous ground-based radial velocity studies....

In recent years, many imaging sensors for small satellites have adopted CMOS active pixel sensors. The Aptina MT9P031 in particular, has seen many adopters. This paper presents lessons learned from our experience integrating this detector with the Sinclair Interplanetary S3S Star Tracker. We present practical advice for handling and assembly and discuss strategies for maximizing image quality o...

The tip-tilt correction system at the Infrared Optical Telescope Array (IOTA) has been upgraded with a new star tracker camera. The camera features a backside-illuminated CCD chip offering doubled overall quantum efficiency and a four times higher system gain compared to the previous system. Tests carried out to characterize the new system showed a higher system gain with a lower read-out noise...

The geometric calibration of the Planck satellite using the planetary transits is investigated, together with the reconstruction of any offsets from the nominal layout of the focal plane. The methods presented here may be applied to a single focal plane transit of a planet, to find the values of the geometric-calibration parameters at the epoch of the transit or all the transits over the course...

An Autonomous Star Tracker (AST) has been designed and is being constructed at National Institute for Space Research (INPE). In order to calibrate and characterize the AST a sophisticated infrastructure of tests is required. This infrastructure, composed of several instruments, has included one Star Simulator (SS). The simulator has also been designed and constructed at INPE. The SS is basicall...

The principles of the calibration of a time projection chamber with radioactive Krypton83 are explained. The calculation of gain correction factors and the methods of obtaining a precise energy calibration are illustrated. The properties and advantages of Kr are summarized and compared to other radioactive calibration sources. It was shown that the Krypton calibration for the STAR FTPC is feasi...