Modern astronomy demands advanced imaging and spectroscopy capabilities. Whether you're capturing deep space images, conducting wide-field or transit surveys, or performing high-speed experiments like adaptive optics, near-Earth object detection, or solar astronomy, our deep-cooled, low-maintenance solutions help you achieve your objectives with precision.
Andor Technology Ltd (“Andor”), is based in Belfast, UK and forms part of the Oxford Instrument group, Andor manufactures high end optical imaging detectors (CCD & CMOS based) typically used in ground based astronomy observation such as Near Earth Objects and Space Debris Tracking…etc, Andor we supply Low noise floor and high sensitivity for low signal observation, Large area sensors for maximum sky coverage and Fast time resolution to capture real time events and moving objects which are required for those challenging ground based observation. Meanwhile, our solutions has been used by the leading experts in these fields such as NASA JPL, ESO, Caltech….etc.
For ground base space observation, Andor mainly supply high performance scientific cameras for NEOs (Near Earth Object) and space debris tracking.
This is one of the example of using andor cameras for space debris tracking. It is the most versatile instrument of the Swiss Optical Ground Station and Geodynamics Observatory Zimmerwald (SwissOGS). The telescope hosts both, the Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) system, and the astronomical cameras used for the observation and the characterization of space debris objects. Until now, the ANDOR sCMOS camera was mainly used for the characterization of space debris by acquiring high-resolution light curves.
Andor’s scientific cmos cameras offer fast frame rate and low noise, as such, by using the camera, we could improve the performances of the SLR system. The tracking camera in fact allows us to correct in real time the pointing of the telescope, thus helping us to overcome the limit given by the small field of view of the SLR system by shortening the target acquisition time.
The correction of the telescope pointing allows us to measure, via SLR, the distance to the observed objects. At the same time, the camera provides simultaneously angular and brightness information, which can be merged with the ranges, for both, the orbit, and the attitude determination of the observed object. This feature becomes fundamental for space debris research.
And recently, we introduce Balor, a new Very Large Area sCMOS camera which is designed for space debris tracking. It provides large field of view(69.9 mm diagonal), fast frame rate and extremely low noise simultaneously. It is the perfect tool for space debris tracking and our First customers is NASA JPL.
In 2024 we acquired a company called FLI. It is funded in 2011 and based in Provence France. First Light Imaging’s portfolios further extend andor’s imaging solutions from Vis range into Short Wave Infrared Range. And SWIR is quite critical because we see rapidly growing market for SWIR Imaging in a number of applications including Astronomy, satellite communications and Defence.
What do First Light do?
The first key market is Adaptive Optics and Wavefront sensing. Because Ground base telescopes have compromised resolution due to atmospheric turbulence. In order to get the best image resolution, an adaptive optics systems need to be implanted to correct the atomospheric turbulence before taking the image. You can see the difference between a ground base telescope with and without AO systems.
Any AO system requires a wavefront camera as the detector. It help you to measure the wavefront and feed this info back to the deformable mirror to correct the wavefront(image) distortion caused by the atomospheric turbulence. It order to achieve real time correction, we will need a high frame rate good SNR and across Visible to SWIR range. That is exactly what FLI is good at. FLI can supply a wide range of camera for AO systems.
Ground base telescopes have compromised resolution due to atmospheric turbulence.
The correction is done before taking the image rather than afterwards. A deformable mirror real time corrects the distorted wavefront, based on fast frame rate info from the wavefront sensing camera.
Result = high resolution image.
Needs – Wavefront cameras with high frame rates, good SNR, SWIR and Vis solutions
Key Benefits
The second growing application is Fress Space Optics communication. Free Space Optics can be used for high throughput and long-distance communications. Demanding applications, such as space telecommunications and ground-to-ground comms.
FSO communications are limited by a series of factors, overcome by using SWIR rather than visible. It is exactly what FLI can supply to the market. And FSO again requires a AO/Wavefront sensing system to correct the turbulence caused by the atmosphere. The new C-Red 3 FLI launched is a high speed low noise SWIR camera which is designed for this type of application.
Application: Free Space Optical communications & Adaptive Optics with C-RED 3
Space-approved sensor & space-designed electronics, 640 x 512, 15µm pixel
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