Lynred secures contract for Sentinel-2 NG mission's advanced infrared detector

Lynred secures contract for Sentinel-2 NG mission's advanced infrared detector
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Apr 22, 2024

Lynred, recognized globally for its high-quality infrared detectors for aerospace, defense, and commercial use, has been selected through an open bidding process to develop a new multispectral infrared detector for the Sentinel-2 Next-Generation (NG) land monitoring satellite mission. This mission is a continuation of the existing Sentinel-2, spearheaded by the European Space Agency (ESA) under the European Commission's Copernicus NG program.

The company will embark on the pre-development of Phase A/B1 for this project, aiming to enhance system-level performance to achieve more precise survey accuracy. This includes decreasing the ground sample distance and integrating additional spectral bands, with the first prototype expected by 2026.

"Sentinel-2 NG represents both a challenge and a thrilling opportunity. Lynred is honored to contribute to this significant satellite mission," expressed Philippe Chorier, Lynred's space business development manager. "Our proven track record in space missions underscores our detectors' reliability under harsh conditions and our commitment to meeting the rigorous demands of space agencies."

Previously, Lynred designed and produced infrared detectors for the ongoing Sentinel-2 mission, which included satellites Sentinel 2A and 2B, launched in 2015 and 2017, and the upcoming Sentinel 2C and 2D.

The forthcoming Sentinel-2 NG mission aims to continue monitoring plant growth and land cover changes and global forestation past 2030. It promises enhanced land surface resolution improvements, aiming for 5m/10m resolution compared to the current 10m/20m.

In addition to designing the enhanced multispectral IR detector, Lynred faces the industrial challenge of mass-producing these detectors quicker than in previous missions. "While we previously delivered numerous flight models over years, the Sentinel-2 NG mission demands a more rapid production pace," Chorier added.

Lynred's design for the Sentinel-2 NG detector will feature five to six detection lines, each with approximately 2,000 pixels at a 15-micron pitch, creating detectors around 3cm long per spectral line. The design incorporates the Readout Integrated Circuit (ROIC) with a Mercury Cadmium Telluride-based detection circuit, hybridized to the ROIC for infrared detection, including space-grade packaging suitable for the S2 NG satellite payload.