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Completed TRL 4 (started at 4, targeting 5)
Many testbeds needed to advance the technical readiness level (TRL) of critical technologies for Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) require ultra-low noise, mid-to-high speed, compact, and vacuum- compatible detectors. This IRAD effort will design modifications to an ambient-environment CMOS camera that is commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) such that it can be used in vacuum applications. The design requirements will be informed by tests to quantify heat expelled from the camera and explore options for heat removal. Testing of the new thermal system and camera will be completed to ensure that it will be compatible for future testbed demonstrations. This vacuum compatible camera will be responsive to cross-cutting needs for numerous projects within the astrophysics portfolio without the excessive costs quoted by vendors of custom detector systems.
This IRAD will enable using a low-cost, COTS, high-TRL detector in a vacuum-compatible system, like upcoming testbeds for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). While the detector itself is vacuum-compatible, the housing is not. Thermal control also must be considered, as any dissipated heat can impact the stability of whatever system hosts the camera. There is a thermo-electric cooler (TEC) to cool the detector, which generates heat. While the ASI cameras are generally low power (maximum consumption is 22W), thermal instabilities must be minimized. In this IRAD, the team will: (1) develop requirements through analysis on the thermal control system needed to enable ultrastable measurements; (2) explore design options of vacuum-compatible operations; and (3) modify a camera system for vacuum compatibility and evaluate its performance in a vacuum environment. This low-cost camera would be widely used across NASA’s HWO technology development portfolio and a wide range of other applications.
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