CCD technology is employed in the majority of space imaging instrumentation. Our CCD programme uses new CCD fabrication technologies and drive techniques, and exploits the latest electronics fabrication and packaging technologies.
RAL has a UK lead in the development of science-grade CMOS Active Pixel Sensors as an alternative to CCDs. CMOS fabrication allows an image sensor and all its readout electronics to be incorporated on a single chip.
RAL's 80 K Stirling-cycle coolers continue to function excellently in orbit on ATSR-2 (launched 1995). 4K coolers, using the same compressors plus a RAL Joule-Thomson head, are being provided for the Planck mission.
The Space Electronics Group has provided electronics for many space instruments. Specialties include: on-board processors and their software, mechanism control systems, and image processing using advanced electronics.
RAL's Mechanical Engineering Section has considerable experience in the design of lightweight sub-systems for scientific instruments. We use the latest 3-D computer aided design tools with links to computer aided manufacture and rapid prototyping technologies.
The group has extensive CAD facilities, well-equiped millimetre wave and terahertz assembly and test facilities, and a world-renowned development facility.
RCRU's Engineering group specialises in the design and construction of atmospheric remote sensing instrumentation spanning HF to millimetre-waves. Expertise includes radars, radiometers and satellite / terrestrial propagation measurement links.
RAL is a member of the AMSTAP partnership. The aim of AMSTAP is to exploit the strengths of the UK in MST and nanotechnology, enabling the UK to take a world lead in the development of space applications of nanotechnology.
RAL frequently assembles teams of specialists to help academia and industry to design instruments. Methods are being developed for improving the efficiency of this process by better integration of software to enable 'concurrent design' to be carried out.
The Optical Systems Group originates and constructs novel optical systems for a wide range of space-borne instruments and their optical test equipment.
The Thermal Engineering Group ensures that flight instruments are designed and built to meet temperature and heat load requirements, whilst surviving the harsh thermal environment of space. We provide a range of services from initial conceptual design studies to detailed design and analysis.
