DLR developed the camera electronics with the focal plane, the camera controller and the power supply for the Korean Kompsat-3 and Kompsat-3A Earth observation satellites. The focal planes enable high-resolution images of the Earth's surface with a ground resolution of up to 0.5m in the two panchromatic channels and 2m in the four multispectral channels (red, green, blue, near infrared).
The department High-Speed Electronics comprises the Institute’s expertise in the development of focal plane units and detector electronics for VIS/NIR satellite cameras. It evolved from the department of Optical Sensor electronics. It builds on the expertise of focal plane unit development for high-resolution spaceborne cameras.
Examples are the focal plane units for the Korean Earth observation satellites KOMPSAT-3 and KOMPSAT-3a, launched in 2011 and 2015, respectively. Actual projects are the VIS/NIR focal plane units for the EnMAP mission and KOMPSAT-7. The department also has the lead of DLR’s FireBIRD mission with its two small satellites TET-1 (Technology Experiment Carrier) and BIROS.
The department operates the optical laboratories for calibration and validation of space instruments and the thermal vacuum test chamber for space qualification. The research and development and of the department is focused on a dedicated sensor and platform design which meets all of the user needs.
