 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Raytheon Develops World's Largest Infrared Light-Wave Detector
El Segundo CA (SPX) Aug 12, 2009 Raytheon has developed the world's largest infrared light-wave detector, expanding current capabilities in missile warning, environmental monitoring and astronomical research. Optimized for space applications, the new "4K-by-4K" focal plane array comprises some 16 million pixels, arranged in 4,096 rows and columns. It is four times larger than infrared detectors currently in production, giving it the ability to collect data from a much wider field of view with improved sensitivity. "This breakthrough in focal-plane technology will clear the way for significant design improvements in a wide range of military and civil applications," said Bill Hart, vice president for Space Systems. "When employed as part of a satellite sensor system, the 4K-by-4K will permit full-Earth hemisphere staring with a single focal plane array." A focal plane array captures packets of light waves (photons) and converts them to electrical impulses that can be used to produce data about the object that emitted the photons. The greater the number of pixels on the array, the greater the area it can survey. Space-based missile warning is one area that could greatly benefit from Raytheon's large-format focal plane array. Sensors with this technology could provide an "unblinking eye" over an entire hemisphere and detect dimmer events or objects more quickly than currently fielded assets. Weather satellites could provide continuous detailed information about global storms, and astronomers would be able to detect infrared phenomena from distances previously not possible. Sensors using the array would also be easier to design, build and test because they wouldn't need the complex scanning mechanisms historically used to cover similarly wide fields of view. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Raytheon Space Technology News - Applications and Research
eSpace Emerges As Mentor For Space EntrepreneursBoulder CO (SPX) Aug 05, 2009 eSpace: The Center for Space Entrepreneurship, a non-profit business incubator for aerospace companies, today announced that it has added new members to its board of directors and a new member to its team of government liaisons. Already lauded for workforce development programs that encourage high school and college students to enter the aerospace industry, eSpace now fortifies its positio ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook