PARIS — Infrared detector manufacturer Sofradir of France has won its first business with India’s space agency, signing a 2.5-year contract to deliver flight models and prototypes of a newly designed detector for future Indian hyperspectral satellites, Sofradir announced Dec. 11.
Under the contract, Sofradir will supply the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Satellite Applications Center in Ahmedabad with prototype short-wave infrared sensors featuring an active cooler designed to increase the detector’s in-orbit service life to four years from one year now, Sofradir said. Also to be provided are detectors with newly designed optical filters that reduce the complexity of sensor optics.
India has an active Earth observation satellite program featuring optical and radar sensors.
Sofradir Chief Executive Philippe Bensussan said the contract was several years in the making and was preceded by delivery of infrared detectors subjected to ground testing by Space Applications Center personnel.
