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The Sentinel-5-Precursor mission, scheduled for launch in 2014, is intended to fill a time gap between Envisat, an earlier generation of earth observation satellites for climate and environment monitoring, and Sentinel 5, which will be on-board the Post-EPS satellite scheduled for launch around 2019.
ESA funded the original development of the 1000x256 SWIR array for the Spectra mission in 1999. Since then, Sofradir has optimised the design of the focal plane array (FPA) and is presently offering two versions of packaging. One has the FPA integrated in a dewar with an active cooler. The second has the FPA in a hermetic package without cooling system, to be implemented with passive cooling in the satellite.
The SWIR with hermetic package without cooling system was selected because it offered some major advantages in reliability and power consumption. Unlike an active cooler that has moving mechanical parts that can shorten the overall life of the detector, passive cooling significantly increases reliability as it is dependent on the FPA only.
Sofradir FPAs are known for their outstanding reliability in harsh environments. For example, Sofradir IR detectors aboard the spaceborne observation satellite Helios IIA have been operating continuously since the 2004 launch. The fully hermetic package with optimised thermal interface minimises the cooling requirement. Other technological advances at Sofradir have enabled it to produce SWIR detectors that exhibit very high performance at relatively high temperatures (140K, -133°C), which means that they also consume less power.
Sofradir is increasingly being selected to participate in satellite and space missions for earth mapping, environment and disaster monitoring, meteorology and planet exploration. Its MCT IR detectors are in orbit in French military earth observation satellites, Helios IIA and IIB. Sofradir’s IR detectors are also being used on ESA’s Venus Express satellite (launched in 2005) and the French MoD SPIRALE satellites.
All of the detectors are still exhibiting nominal performance. Other space activities include
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the Japanese space agency (JAXA) SGLI/G- COM (Second Generation GLI/Global Change Observation Mission), where Sofradir’s IR detectors are in Flight Model Phase.
In 2010, Sofradir delivered 26 detectors for space programs. Development teams at Sofradir are also working on a 1000x1000 SWIR array partially funded by ESA. This detector has been earmarked as a candidate for several ESA-led projects in the future.
CIGS to emerge as the major technology by 2020
Despite caution in the overall PV industry, the thin film market is expected to experience an overwhelming growth in coming years with CIGS coming out on top in the next 9 years.
Reportlinker.com is now marketing the report, “Thin - Film Photovoltaic (PV) Cells Market Analysis to 2020 - CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide) to Emerge as the Major Technology by 2020.”
The report provides key data, information and analysis on the current status and future outlook of Global Thin film industry. The global thin film PV market, despite caution in the overall PV industry, is expected to experience an overwhelming growth in coming years.
By 2020, the industry is set to transform itself to become the face of Solar PV industry. The study also addresses thin-film module production, production capacity, and competition among the industry players (as per technologies) along with the focus on development of emerging technologies in the thin film arena.
The report entails comprehensive analysis of top 5 countries. The strongest growth for thin film is anticipated to be in Europe and the US in the short to medium term. Asian countries like China, Japan, and India are also expected to speed up their escalation in the medium term. Germany however will remain strongest and the most important market for thin film PV industry.
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