UK sensors on board NASA’s latest spacecraft

The SDO spacecraft will examine the evolution of solar activity and refine the understanding of space weather by studying the Sun on extremely small scales. E2v has supplied sensors for two of the three instruments on board, the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI). Four processed back illuminated e2v CCD203-82 (4k x 4k) sensors, sensitive to extreme uv wavelengths are incorporated into the four AIA telescopes which will observe the Sun in wavelength range 9.4nm to 170nm. The AIA instrument will use solar images taken in multiple wavelengths to study the energetics of the solar atmosphere and its interaction with the surface magnetic fields. Two front illuminated e2v CCD203-82 (4k x 4k) sensors are used in the HMI instrument to image the Sun in visible light at 617nm. The HMI instrument will measure both solar surface magnetic fields and the Sun's surface motion as a probe of the solar interior. E2v optimised the performance for each instrument and all CCDs have the same electrical format, having been designed at lower voltages than normal. According to Jon Kemp, general manager of Space and Defence Imaging at e2v, this facilitates provision of drive electronics and also reduces the power demand on the spacecraft. Kemp said: "e2v is proud to have partnered with Lockheed Martin and Stanford University in this cutting edge endeavour to advance human kind's knowledge of our environment. The e2v sensors will deliver high performance to enable what we are sure will be another successful mission. The launch of SDO marks the third time in recent months that e2v sensors have contributed to US space programmes, following Kepler and Hubble upgrade."