RAL Space - latest developments in space science and technology

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CCLRC RUTHERFORD APPLETON LABORATORY Technology RAL has a number of internationally important technology groups, each specialising in a specific critical technology associated with cutting-edge space instrumentation. This expertise, backed by RAL’s extensive engineering capability, allows us to play a leading role in defining novel scientific instruments. MILLIMETRE AND TERAHERTZ INSTRUMENTATION ELECTRONICS DESIGN HIGH RESOLUTION OPTICAL IMAGING The Millimetre Wave Technology Group is expert in all aspects of the design, manufacture and test of millimetre wave and terahertz devices and systems at frequencies from 30 GHz to 3 THz. Applications include remote sensing, astronomy and industrial monitoring. The Group has extensive CAD, assembly and test expertise with a world-renowned micro-machining capability. It incorporates a precision microwave development facility, producing, for example, waveguides as small as 100 µm x 26 µm. Contact: David Matheson Tel 01235 446582 Email: d.n.matheson@rl.ac.uk The Space Electronics Group has provided electronics packages for many of the instruments described in this brochure. Specialities include on-board processors and their software, mechanism control systems, and image processing using advanced electronics. Contact: Dave Parker Tel: 01235 445850 Email: d.j.parker@rl.ac.uk Building on the goals of the TopSat (p. 11) programme, RAL is developing a next-generation Earth observation camera capable of one metre per pixel ground sampling from a microsatellite. The new camera incorporates a novel 3-mirror optical design in which the first and third mirrors are formed on a common substrate. Contact: Nick Waltham Tel: 01235 446500 Email: n.r.waltham@rl.ac.uk CCD TECHNOLOGY The group has a strategic programme in the development of CCD detectors, and readout electronics technology. It provides a UK lead through the development of radiation tolerant ASICs designed specifically for sciencegrade CCD camera systems. A new CCD video processing ASIC provides a preamplifier, correlated double sampler and 16-bit ADC all in one low-power chip. Contact: Nick Waltham Tel: 01235 446500 Email: n.r.waltham@rl.ac.uk RADAR SYSTEMS RAL is expert in all aspects of radar design, with extensive practical experience in polarimetric, Doppler, coherent-phase, and pulsecompression techniques at UHF, microwave and millimetre wavelengths. Our operational systems span the range 1 to 94 GHz, employing advanced RF and signal processing technology to characterize precipitation, clouds and clear-air atmospheric effects. Contact: Jon Eastment Tel: 01235 446546 E-mail: j.d.eastment@rl.ac.uk www.rcru.rl.ac.uk/ COOLERS RAL’s 80 K Stirling-cycle coolers continue to function excellently in orbit on ATSR-2 (launched 1995). 4 K coolers, using the same compressors plus a RAL Joule- Thomson head, are being provided for the Planck (p. 11) mission. RAL cooler drive-electronics are used for AATSR and MIPAS on ENVISAT (p. 6). Under ESA contract, we developed a tool for the mathematical modelling of cryocoolers. Contact: John Delderfield Tel: 01235 446412 Email: j.delderfield@rl.ac.uk 20
RAL SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Electronics for the drop-counting rain-gauge units at CFARR RAL is developing the next generation Earth observation camera, capable of one metre per pixel ground sampling from a micro-satellite Electronics with four ASIC units designed for CCD camera system CRYOGENIC ENGINEERING RAL has a specialist capability in cryogenic engineering for space projects. We are involved throughout the full project life cycle, and have the expertise to cover all areas of instrument design and testing. A number of project-dedicated cryostats are currently being used to verify flight hardware designed and built at RAL. Contact: Doug Griffin Tel: 01235 446406 Email: d.k.griffin@rl.ac.uk CMOS ACTIVE PIXEL SENSOR TECHNOLOGY RAL has a UK lead in the development of science-grade CMOS Active Pixel Sensors as an alternative to CCD detectors. A 12 million pixel sensor has been fabricated and tested in work leading towards the development of a back-thinned EUV sensitive detector for the Extreme Ultra-Violet Spectrograph on ESA’s forthcoming Solar Orbiter (p. 3) mission. Contact: Nick Waltham Tel: 01235 446500 Email: n.r.waltham@rl.ac.uk 21
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