e2v high performance image sensors were launched into space on NigeriaSat-2, the Earth observation satellite that has been developed for the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) of Nigeria.

The satellite will provide Nigeria with valuable geographically referenced high-resolution satellite imaging for applications in mapping, water resources management, agricultural land use, population estimation, health hazard monitoring and disaster mitigation and management.

The e2v high-resolution focal plane for the instrument was built with an array of five Charge Coupled Device (CCD) CCD31-40 imaging sensors. CCD31-40 is an 8192 x 1 pixel device with 12 µm square pixels with readout via two registers, one above and one below the image region. The registers are split in the middle and terminated in four separate output amplifiers. There are also five multispectral bands that cover the spectrum from 450 nm to 900 nm.

A significant feature of the focal plane design is a new packaging technique, developed at e2v, in which the five devices are mounted in very close parallel with each other and co-planar to < 10 µm.

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) UK integrated the e2v imaging sensors into a focal plane array for the NigeriaSat-2 satellite and mounted appropriate filters over some of the CCDs to give the required color information.

“We are extremely pleased with e2v’s support to this program,” said Paul Carter, SSTL Project Manager for development of the imager. “The CCDs provide excellent performance factors and were delivered on time.”

e2v Marketing and Applications Manager, Bertrand De Monte stated, “e2v is proud to deliver this innovative image sensor focal plane array to SSTL and equip NASRDA of Nigeria with valuable geographically referenced high-resolution imagery. We are confident that NigeriaSat-2 will be a great success, accelerating the discovery of indispensable information in this region.”