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Experiment: AO135

Experiment Title: Effect of Space Exposure on Pyroelectric Infrared Detectors

Original Principal Investigator(s): Robertson, Dr. James - Invest. Role: Present, Clark, Mr. Ivan - Invest. Role: Present, Robertson, Dr. James - Invest. Role: Original, Clark, Mr. Ivan - Invest. Role: Original, Crouch, Roger - Invest. Role: Original,

Experiment Description:

NASA's commitment to air pollution monitoring and thermal mapping of the Earth, which includes the remote sensing of aerosols and limb scanning infrared radiometer projects, requires photodetection in the 6 to 20 micron region of the spectrum. The Hg-Cd-Te detectors that are used in these wavelengths must be cooled to 50 to 80 K. The cryogenic systems required to achieve these temperatures are large, complex, and expensive.

Pyroelectric detectors are one of many different types of infrared radiation detectors. The pyroelectric detectors are of interest for long-term space use because they do not require cooling during operation. Also, they can detect at very long wavelengths and they have a relatively flat spectral response. Pyroelectric detectors can detect radiation in the 1 - 100 micron region while operating at room temperature. This make the pyroelectric detector a prime candidate to fill NASA's thermal infrared detector requirements. A disadvantage is that the radiation must be chopped in order to be detected by a pyroelectric detector.

Associated Tray(s) Tray Location: E05 - Orientation: 128.1 degrees off ram incidence angle

Photograph Classification: Prelaunch

Associated Photograph(s):
LaRC - L89-04387
KSC - KSC-384C-255.06
JSC - None
LaRC - L90-10413
KSC - None
JSC - S32-77-050
LaRC - L91-10508
KSC - KSC-390C-2114.03
JSC - None
LaRC - L90-13450
KSC - KSC-390C-1035.05
JSC - None


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