Q: What types of detectors does your team PRODUCE?
We design and manufacture detectors and sensors from x-ray through visible
to shortwave infrared on various technology platforms for a few different
segments from deep space exploration and science missions to earth
observation and other space applications. We are also broadening our offer
around electronics and camera solutions for commercial space.
Collaboration is central to our development ethos, working with both
customers and sister Teledyne companies to deliver solutions for the
myriad of missions.
Our USP is detector performance. That is what we are known for. We design
our sensors to withstand the harsh environments of space. This gives our
customers confidence that their missions will be successful.
Q: How is Teledyne SPACE IMAGING responding to the demand from the
emerging commercial space industry?
Teledyne Space Imaging was known as being quite traditional as a company
and has a rich heritage in the space industry. While we still deliver for
major space agency led programmes for ESA and NASA, we also work with new
space companies, adding significant value by applying our space
engineering expertise to their instruments.
Q: Will Teledyne Space Imaging be attending the Small Satellite
Conference Utah this Summer?
Yes, we are looking forward to being part of this conference and meeting
with industry contacts. We have seen a big growth in the small sat area.
Customers are looking for our assistance integrating our detectors quickly
and cost effectively onto small satellites. Startups are approaching us
for our detectors given our knowledge and rich heritage in this specialist
area. They need a solution that will prove a concept that will enable them
to secure additional funding in the future. And then they're looking for
slightly longer-term agreements with increased volumes That's really where
the growth areas are for us at the moment.
Q: How does Teledyne Space Imaging impact lives?
Our detectors are ideal for capturing high quality images of eco and
humanitarian disasters around the world.
During the huge earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria back in February our
image detectors on the Sentinel-2 satellite assisted the emergency
services and search teams to target certain areas and buildings that were
going to preserve the most life.
Another example is with forest fires. Again, it is our imaging sensors
that helped save lives. The scale of forest fires in France reached a
record level in 2022. The Teledyne Space Imaging sensors on Sentinel-2
satellite assisted the emergency services to identify where the fires
started, and the direction they were travelling, enabling rescue teams and
emergency services to evacuate certain areas before the fires reached
them. A year on, satellite imagery continues to inform the forestry teams
on how the land is recovering and which areas remain vulnerable to more
fires.
On a more positive note, our sensor on the Tropomi Satellite, also part of
the Copernicus fleet, has been able to map the shrinking hole in our ozone
layer which is a testament that collectively we did the right thing by
banning CFCs.
Q: Why do space companies buy their sensors and detectors from Teledyne
Space Imaging?
The first reason is our rich heritage. There is a huge number of missions
that are still flying with our detectors onboard and they're still being
able to produce and provide images for our customers.
The second reason is our reputation for the level of quality that we're
able to provide.
Q: How global is Teledyne Space Imaging?
We are global. Our design and manufacturing centre of excellence is in
Essex in the UK, we've a site in Grenoble France and a network of business
development managers around the world. We work with all the spacefaring
nations on Earth.
Q: How do you see the future for Teledyne Space Imaging?
The Space sector is on a growth trajectory and so are we. Teledyne Space
Imaging has transformed from being just a component supplier to a trusted
partner who develops and designs solutions for both large primes and
start-ups. The other step change for us has been the development of CMOS
sensors for space. Our heritage has been in CCDs, and we have taken our
knowledge of making them space resilient and applied it to CMOS sensors.
Our first two CMOS sensors have been launched - one is on its way to
Jupiter and its icy moons, and we will have to wait 8 years to see its
results, but the other on Europe's weather forecasting satellite MTG-I has
already returned detailed images enabling more accurate prediction and
analysis of weather phenomena over Europe.
