Abstract

The Phenomenology Imager and Nighttime Observer (PIANO) is an infrared imager that, through the auspices of the Space Test Program (STP), is scheduled to fly on the International Space Station (ISS) in December 2021 on the STP-H7 instrument pallet. It will be among the first 4k x 4k IR focal planes flown in space. It uses the Teledyne H4RG detector and a custom optical assembly to obtain a high native spatial resolution of about 65 m per pixel at the ground. The FPA is cooled by a tactical cryocooler to temperatures of less than 150K and operates at 1.5 to 1.72 microns (similar to the H band). PIANO will observe nighttime weather and cloud types as well as studying the Earth’s airglow and wave structures in the upper atmosphere. The precursor to PIANO, the Near-Infrared Airglow Camera, with a 2k x 2k IR focal plane, launched in May 2019 and is still operating onboard the ISS.

This presentation discusses pre-launch testing results of PIANO. These tests include characterizations to optimize the performance of the focal plane, which has a cut-off wavelength of 1.72 microns, and radiometric calibration incorporating the flight optics and obtained with both in-laboratory sources and star fields.

Share

COinS
 
Sep 2nd, 8:30 AM

Pre-Flight Calibrations for the PIANO Airglow Camera on the ISS

The Phenomenology Imager and Nighttime Observer (PIANO) is an infrared imager that, through the auspices of the Space Test Program (STP), is scheduled to fly on the International Space Station (ISS) in December 2021 on the STP-H7 instrument pallet. It will be among the first 4k x 4k IR focal planes flown in space. It uses the Teledyne H4RG detector and a custom optical assembly to obtain a high native spatial resolution of about 65 m per pixel at the ground. The FPA is cooled by a tactical cryocooler to temperatures of less than 150K and operates at 1.5 to 1.72 microns (similar to the H band). PIANO will observe nighttime weather and cloud types as well as studying the Earth’s airglow and wave structures in the upper atmosphere. The precursor to PIANO, the Near-Infrared Airglow Camera, with a 2k x 2k IR focal plane, launched in May 2019 and is still operating onboard the ISS.

This presentation discusses pre-launch testing results of PIANO. These tests include characterizations to optimize the performance of the focal plane, which has a cut-off wavelength of 1.72 microns, and radiometric calibration incorporating the flight optics and obtained with both in-laboratory sources and star fields.