Tiangong No. 2 UV edge detection special load developed successfully

[China Instrument Network Instrument R&D] On June 23, the Tiangong-2 UV Probing Special Load Assessment Index on-orbit evaluation was held in Beijing. The assessment team unanimously agreed that the UV edge detection special load passes the review.

The assessment team consists of experts from Peking University, the National Satellite Meteorological Center, the Beijing Institute of Applied Meteorology, the General Department of Space of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Technology, the Changchun Institute of Opto-Mechanics, and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics.

Experts of the assessment team believe that: UV edge detection has been proposed and implemented for the first time in the world. A new ring detection mode has been adopted. The new system of ring + forward detection has been used to achieve multi-azimuth and multi-band simultaneous atmospheric component detection. The functions of two loads are: The performance indicators meet the requirements of the development task book and the assessment is successful.

The special load of UV detection of Tiangong-2 was developed by Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. This special payload was carried on the Tiangong 2 and was launched on September 15, 2016. 10 hours after the launch was successful, the special load was powered up, and the temperature control reached a steady state after 1 hour and 10 minutes. As a user unit, the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducts on-orbit index evaluation work on the basis that the test items and contents cover all functions, external and internal interfaces, and meet the requirements of the task book. During the orbital operation of the space laboratory, the load carries out UV-visible-near infrared spectrometric edge detection of the Earth's marginal atmosphere to obtain the earth-edge spectral data. Through the atmospheric edge inversion technique, the vertical distribution of atmospheric components such as O3 is obtained, and experimental explorations of atmospheric aerosol information are conducted.

The specific load of UV detection of Tiangong-2 is composed of UV forward spectrometer and UV ring imager. As shown in the figure below, the two have strong complementarity. The ring imager provides multi-azimuth spatial distribution and dynamic macrostructure of atmospheric radiation, and the forward spectrometer provides fine structure of a certain position. This is the first time in China to use the edge observation method for atmospheric detection, and it can achieve simultaneous remote sensing of atmospheric trace gas concentrations such as atmospheric density and ozone.

The picture shows the UV forward spectrometer and UV ring imager

The development of special UV detection and in-orbit experiments of space laboratories have opened up new directions for prediction of global environment and climate, application of space weather, and research of ultraviolet attitude sensing units, etc. Run lays the foundation. The special load has broad application prospects in the fields of atmospheric trace gas monitoring, atmospheric and environmental forecasting, and space weather.

(Original Title: Tiangong No. 2 UV Edge Detection Special Load Developed by Changchun Optical Engine Co., Ltd