Atmel's CCD Imaging ICS Embark On 10-Year Journey Into Space

IRON AND ICE

illustration only

Grenoble - Mar 16, 2004
Atmel Corporation has announced its contribution to the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission. The satellite was successfully launched on March 2, 2004 by ArianeV, taking along Atmel's family of TH78xx CCD imaging chips. After a 10-year travel period, Rosetta will reach and observe the Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet.

Among other exploratory equipment, Rosetta includes a spectroscope built by Italy's Galileo Avionica, in which Atmel's 1-million pixel full-frame area array CCD (TH7896M) is embedded to analyze the UV to near infrared spectrum. This particular CCD is partially coated with a UV layer and sealed with a special quartz window.

A lander will make a 360-degree survey of the comet's surface thanks to six micro-cameras built by Switzerland's Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique (CSEM) with compact and rugged technology developed by the French company 3D+. Each camera incorporates Atmel's 1-million pixel frame transfer area array CCD (TH7888A) with an anti-blooming feature.

"This project is very exciting," said Jean-Philippe Lamarcq, Atmel's Professional Imaging Director. "We were selected to take part for our high performance devices and our previous involvements in space projects, such as Clementine, the first U.S. micro satellite.

The fundamentals of this mission were quite unusual: the chips were to withstand a 10-year storage period and an operating temperature of -120-degree Celsius. We were required to adapt the environmental and electro-optical test conditions as well as qualify a device with a special UV coating and non-standard sealing. Having met these challenges, Atmel has certainly demonstrated that its CCDs are capable of withstanding severe environmental constraints while maintaining high performance."

During its 25-year involvement in space imaging projects, Atmel has developed many linear arrays, Time Delay Integration (TDI) CCDs for high-resolution observation of the Earth and other planets. The company has also developed rad-tolerant area arrays for star sensors and contributed to many scientific missions by up-screening image sensors from its standard product list.

Atmel will continue to serve space-related projects by offering image sensors with state-of-the art performance, high reliability and long-term availability, in close cooperation with the company's worldwide customers.

IRON AND ICE

Two Asteroid Fly-Bys For Rosetta

Paris (ESA) Mar 11, 2004
Today the Rosetta Science Working Team has made the final selection of the asteroids that Rosetta will observe at close quarters during its journey to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Steins and Lutetia lie in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news 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 Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.