Upgrade of the SOFIA target acquisition and tracking cameras

Manuel Wiedemann; Jürgen Wolf; Hans-Peter Roeser

doi:10.1117/12.925583

27 September 2012 Upgrade of the SOFIA target acquisition and tracking cameras

Manuel Wiedemann, Jürgen Wolf, Hans-Peter Roeser

Proceedings Volume 8444, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes IV; 84442T (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925583
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) uses three CCD cameras with different optics for target acquisition and tracking. The Wide Field Imager (WFI with 68 mm optics) and the Fine Field Imager (FFI with 254 mm optics) are mounted on the telescope front ring and are therefore exposed to stratospheric conditions in flight. The Focal Plane Imager (FPI) receives the visible light from the 2.5 meter telescope and is mounted inside the pressurized aircraft cabin at ca. 20°C. It is planned to replace all three imagers' CCD sensors with commercial Andor iXon cameras to significantly increase the sensitivity allowing for tracking on fainter stars. Andor cameras were temporarily mounted on the FPI flange as stand-alone systems to optically measure the telescope's pointing stability and the performance of various telescope sub-systems during engineering flights. Three DU-888 cameras will now be integrated in SOFIA's telescope system, so their image data can be used for target acquisition and tracking. To replace the WFI and FFI, the cameras will also need to be tested under stratospheric conditions, to ensure that they can be operated safely and without degradation of performance. In this paper we will report about the results of the environmental tests with the cameras, the integration of the camera in the SOFIA tracker and the current status of the upgrade project.

Citation Download Citation

Manuel Wiedemann, Jürgen Wolf, and Hans-Peter Roeser "Upgrade of the SOFIA target acquisition and tracking cameras", Proc. SPIE 8444, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes IV, 84442T (27 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925583

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available