The Optical Payload group has been delivering imagers for 30+ years, to many customers from institutional flagship missions with ESA and NASA, through MOD and commercial customers.
Like many areas in SSTL it’s a multi discipline team taking optical payloads from cradle to grave.
This includes the design, assembly and verification of optical payloads through to in orbit calibration on launch and through life.
A selection of current developments...
- DarkCarb – MWIR imager 3.5m GSD
- Precision – Visible, NIR pushbroom imager <0.5m GSD
- Carbonite+ - Latest generation visible carbonite video image
- TRUTHS
- Truecolour – 9 band, 5m GSD, 120km swath imager
- Hyperspectral instruments
- Providing support to Sentinel 5 testing
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Optical Systems
Working to define and develop optical payload concepts both from customer requirements and internal product innovation. Subsequently overseeing the payload development throughout its lifecycle.
This includes:
- Defining the system in terms of key optical parameters such as focal length, aperture size, MTF, SNR, spectral characteristics, line rates
- Own the system trades balancing performance against schedule, risk and cost
- Own the verification of the requirements
- Working closely with spacecraft system engineers to ensure effective overall solution
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Optomechanical Design and Analysis
Working very closely with optical systems and imaging electronics the discipline is responsible for the design, analysis and testing of opto-mechanical structures.
This includes:
- Opto-mechanical system design from initial concepts to detail manufacturing drawings
- Analysis (inertial, thermal and modal) of Opto-mechanical assemblies including metering structures, mirror mounts, lens assemblies and focal plane assemblies.
- Support the integration of mechanical and optical components in the cleanroom
- Support the testing (optical, vibration and thermal) of finished assemblies.
- Support the design and testing of spacecraft as required.
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Optical Design
Taking the overall optical payload concept and realising it as an optical design.
This includes:
- Optical design, tolerancing, straylight analysis
- Managing the optical design throughout the development integrating thermal and mechanical load impacts and maintaining an as built design file
- Developing the optical prescription of components and understanding manufacturers capabilities
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AIV
A focus on being hands-on with the build and test of the optical payload
This includes:
- Carrying out breadboard and development activities
- Developing AIV concepts, assembly flows and optical ground support requirements
- Carrying out optical payload build and test
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Imager Electronics
Designing and testing the electronics that are associated with the optical payload
This includes:
- Electronics for driving a range of sensors
- Service modules for power distribution, heaters, telemetry, Focus mechanisms, etc
- VHDL and software development
- Build and test of electronics modules
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Image Quality/Processing
Ensuring that the final image product meets expectations, stepping beyond the requirements to understand that the final image product is fit for purpose
This includes:
- On-ground and in-orbit calibration of payloads for parameters such as MTF and radiometric calibration
- Looking at image artefacts
- Impacts of processing algorithms on final products
- Image simulation of products in development