Oct 14 2010
e2v, a global supplier of standard imaging devices, has been offered an award by the European Space Agency (ESA) to configure a novel Charge Coupled Device (CCD) camera sensor for use in the Euclid space science project. By employing the Euclid perceptible channel device, the mission focuses on mapping and inspecting the configuration of galaxies to explore the design of the universe by means of weak gravitational imaging.
The delicate gravitational lensing demands high-quality images to calibrate the actual distortions based on gravity. The image sensing units from e2v is integrated with the Euclid space telescope’s visible focal plane series. The CCDs are wide zone back illuminated instruments modified for perception in 550nm to 920nm range. These devices will be configured to achieve near-buttability to lower the non-active zones in the focal plane and to lessen the mass, size and price of the telescope.
Upon successful launching, the satellite will be circumnavigating the sun 1.5 million km apart from the earth for a duration of about five years. The galactic sky will be monitored during this period, exempting the Milky Way.
The space project aims on another two ESA Cosmic Vision mission encompassing Solar Orbiter and Plato, for which e2v has been offered a progressive agreement. Both the missions will be initialized in June 2011 and will be launched in 2018.
Source: http://www.e2v.com