Project description
Advanced focal plane arrays for space imaging
Focal plane arrays (FPAs), advanced sensor technologies used in imaging systems, play a significant role in space research, capturing detailed images of distant celestial bodies. The rise of mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) infrared FPAs has significantly enhanced the observation capabilities in the infrared part of the spectrum. Despite this, EU detector manufacturers are lagging behind their United States counterparts, who have successfully produced MCT infrared FPAs with up to 4K×4K pixels. The EU-funded STEP project aims to bridge this gap by creating a European supply chain focused on designing and manufacturing large format type-II superlattice extended short-wave infrared FPAs. STEP will cover all aspects of infrared FPA production, from detector design to the evaluation of large space prototype FPAs.
Objective
In the last years, Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) IR Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs) have drastically boosted the observational capabilities of space IR payloads. In the US, industrial production of MCT IR FPAs with formats up to 4K×4K pixels is established, while in Europe, initiatives from European Institutions and most advanced EU manufacturers are currently on-going to progress on large format MCT hybrids such as 2kx2k, though the industrial set-up necessary to support operational space programs remains to be elaborated and matured. As instruments designers are asking for larger size FPAs, EU detector manufacturers are losing ground with respect to US competitors.
T2SL technology is an alternative to MCT for the manufacturing of IR FPAs. In the US, progress on T2SL FPA development led to up to 8K×8K IR FPAs demonstrations, but like US MCT ones, these are not easily available for the EU market due to strong export/ITAR restrictions. Moreover, US ROICs feature better performances and interfaces compared to their EU counterparts.
The STEP project will provide a disruptive European supply chain fully focused on the design and manufacturing of competitive and affordable large format T2SL eSWIR FPAs. STEP will incorporate all steps of the IR FPA production chain: detector design, large scale growth, fabrication, hybridization, large format and high performances scalable ROIC with dedicated features to improve eSWIR space FPA performances, and evaluation of large space prototype FPAs (including space environment evaluation).
STEP will benefit from a European complementary consortium team: Airbus, the well-known space industrial (requirements, performances testing, environment evaluation, space missions insertion and business plan), the European leader in T2SL manufacturing, IRnova (high performances eSWIR T2SL design & characterization, FPA space prototype manufacturing and non-space applications insertion), a world class RTO, Fraunhofer IAF (T2SL manufacturing and characterization), and a leader in aerospace research ISAE-SUPAERO (high performance large format ROIC design & validation and establishment of a EU large format digital space ROIC line).
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.4.10 - Space, including Earth Observation
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL4-2023-SPACE-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
31402 TOULOUSE CEDEX
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.