e2v image sensors launched into space with Vietnam’s Earth observation satellite

• Satellite’s primary mission include helping take measures to prevent natural disasters, and optimise management of Vietnam's natural resources
• VNRED Sat-1 built on behalf of Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) by Astrium, a European space tech company

CHELMSFORD, England-based e2v said that its high performance image sensors were launched into space on board Vietnam's first optical Earth observation satellite, the Vietnam Natural Resources, Environment and Disaster Monitoring Satellite (VNRED Sat-1), on May 7.
 
The satellite was carried into orbit from French Guiana by VERTA 1, the second Vega launcher, e2v said in a statement.

e2v began in the early 1940s as a part of the Marconi group, but was spun off by 1947. Its major clients include Airbus, Boeing and NASA. Its imaging sensors were also fitted unto the Hubble Telescope as part of an upgrade project in 2010.
 
VNRED Sat-1 was built on behalf of the Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) in Toulouse, France by Astrium, a European space technology company.
 
Its primary mission is to monitor and study the effects of climate change, predict and take measures to prevent natural disasters, and optimise the management of Vietnam's natural resources. It will do this by monitoring the shape of Vietnam's coastlines, the erosion of its rivers and the condition of its crops and forests.
 
VNRED Sat-1 has one sole instrument, an optical camera, which is enabled by an e2v back-thinned Time Delay Integrated (TDI), Charged Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor, the company said in a statement.
e2v said it worked closely with Astrium to carefully understand the requirements of the VNRED mission and provide the ideal solution; an e2v image sensor which provides very high sensitivity combined with flexibility of use and high level compactness.
 
The optical camera will image at 2.5m resolution in panchromatic mode and 10m resolution in multi-spectral mode (four bands) with a 17.5km swath, and will orbit at 600-700km in a sun-synchronous orbit.
 
Jean-Charles Terrien, marketing manager of high performance imaging solutions at e2v, said: “We are very pleased to be continuing our successful relationship with Astrium by supplying high performance image sensors for VNRED.
 
“This mission is another example of how e2v has provided a successful solution for Earth Observation applications. We look forward to seeing yet more high resolution images made possible by e2v solutions,” he added.
 
e2v provides specialist technology for high performance systems and equipment; aimed at the medical and science; aerospace and defence; and commercial and industrial markets.

It employs approximately 1,650 people, and has design and operational facilities across Europe, North America and Asia. For the year ended March 31 2012, it reported sales of £235 million and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

 
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