Articles on the scientific missions enabled by Teledyne's focal plane arrays
Electromagnetic radiation (light) is the primary messenger of information in the Universe and detection of light is critical to many areas of scientific research. This is especially true in fields where “remote sensing” of distant objects is the only way to study those objects, such as astronomy (from ground and space), planetary exploration, heliophysics (physics of the Sun and its effects on the solar system), and Earth observation from airborne and space-based instrumentation.
Remote sensing depends on measurement of the natural light emitted or reflected by the object under study. It is not possible to illuminate distant objects as can be done in a laboratory setting. Therefore, the forefront of science requires the most sensitive detectors of light. Since Teledyne produces the world’s highest performance visible and infrared detectors, most of the leading facilities and missions rely on Teledyne’s detectors.
Some missions would not even be possible without Teledyne’s state-of-the-art imaging detectors. Examples are the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the Roman Space Telescope, and PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO). These missions are enabled by the large format, high performance infrared and visible detectors made by Teledyne. Teledyne is honored to partner with the passionate scientists around the world who dedicate their careers to exploration of the Universe.
Most every month (but not all), Teledyne will post an article about the space missions supported by our focal plane arrays. Some of the articles will be accompanied by a “primer” that explains the fundamentals of the field of scientific enquiry. Each article (and primer) will include a downloadable .pdf format. Teledyne provides permission for readers to share these articles for non-commercial purposes, such as classrooms, subject to the condition that the .pdf files are reproduced in their entirety with all of the image and source credits.
