Space surveillance with medium-wave infrared sensors

Recent advancements in the development of large focal-plane arrays (FPAs) have led to their configuration in a staring, rather than a scanning format, to achieve excellent thermal sensitivity in the medium-wavelength IR band (3-5 microns) where the atmospheric degradation of signals is minimal. A practical sensor of this type which would be applicable to space surveillance consists of a large staring array of Si Schottky-barrier detectors. The staring format of FPAs facilitates the design of small, reliable (either ground-based or spaceborne) sensors possessing both high sensitivity and wide coverage.