SEPTEMBER 6--Sensors Unlimited (Princeton, NJ;www.sensorsinc.com), a manufacturer of short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) linear arrays, photodiodes, and imaging systems, has played a role in the inspection system that was implemented during the flight of the space shuttle Discovery for the return-to-flight mission. The SU256LX-1.7RT-0500, a 256-element array on a 50-μm pitch with a 1.7-μm cutoff, was integrated into the 3-D laser camera system (LCS) developed by Neptec Design Group (Houston, TX, and Ottawa, ON, Canada; www.neptec.com). Neptec's high-resolution 3-D imaging laser system was part of the 15-m boom detector system deployed to inspect the shuttle's hull and wings while in orbit. The rugged camera was designed to scan for tiny fractures and diagnose thermal tile problems even in hard-to- reach areas, such as the underside of the shuttle's hull.
The LCS uses a synchronized scanning technique patented by the National Research Council of Canada to generate 3-D data. Neptec's laser sensor system yields much more information than traditional, 2-D imagery and is the first 3-D laser scanner qualified for use in space flight.
According to Neptec, the inspection boom provided essential information to NASA decisionmakers that helped them determine thatDiscovery could safely return to Earth. The imaging array, developed with Sensors Unlimited's proprietary indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) technology, aided in the inspection and analysis of the tiles by enabling imaging in the SWIR region.
Martin H. Ettenberg, director of imaging products at Sensors Unlimited, notes, "We are proud to have played a role in the success of this unprecedented mission and to have our SWIR linear array integrated into Neptec's laser camera system. We congratulate all the tireless folks at NASA and the entire team ofDiscovery for the successful flight and safe return.
