Speaker
Description
Within the framework of the "Plan Complementario de Astrofísica y Física de Altas Energías", the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC) has led the design and development of a miniaturized wide-angle CMOS space camera for upcoming space and interplanetary missions. Building on the know-how gained through participation in ESA’s Fast-Class (F-type) missions, the project capitalizes on proven design practices for rapid, cost-efficient developments that ensure optimal scientific performance and reliability.
The system integrates a space-qualified monochrome 4-megapixel CMOS detector with a 5.5 µm pixel pitch, embedded in a reconfigurable FPGA-based digital architecture enabling autonomous image preprocessing, telemetry management, and data formatting. Its optical assembly provides an 80° × 80° field of view through a radiation-hardened 7.9 mm focal-length lens, ensuring reliable imaging performance for spacecraft navigation, monitoring, and scientific observation. The compact unit -86×72×69 mm in size and 376 g in mass- features an aluminum enclosure offering mechanical robustness, thermal efficiency, and radiation shielding up to 30 krad.
This development is the result of a collaboration between the IAA-CSIC and three companies from the productive sector -TÜV Nord ALTER Technology (Seville) and 3D PLUS (France)- to deliver a compact imaging solution for next-generation space missions. The resulting low-mass, low-power camera represents a step forward in the miniaturization of high-performance imaging systems for space applications, enhancing Spain’s contribution to Europe’s capabilities in advanced space instrumentation.
