Aging (Instruments) in Space

  • Released Friday, July 23, 2021
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The space environment is harsh not only on humans and other living organisms, but instruments also.
Damage from solar energetic particles and cosmic rays can slowly degrade performance of an instrument. Fortunately there are ways to characterize and correct for this degradation. The graphics on this page are based on the tutorial AIApy: Modeling Channel Degradation over Time.

A view of AIA 304 shortly after the start of science operations when the instrument was 'like new'.

A view of AIA 304 shortly after the start of science operations when the instrument was 'like new'.

Plot of the change in instrument sensitivity with time for the AIA instruments on SDO. Note some filters are far more strongly affected than others

Plot of the change in instrument sensitivity with time for the AIA instruments on SDO. Note some filters are far more strongly affected than others



After almost a year of operations, there is already a suggestion of a change in instrument response. Here we have AIA 304 data with the color table applied to the raw data (above) and the recalibrated data (below).

After less than a year, we see a small degradation in performance in this un-recalibrated image.

After less than a year, we see a small degradation in performance in this un-recalibrated image.

Here is the same data as the image above, recalibrated with the same color table applied.

Here is the same data as the image above, recalibrated with the same color table applied.



Three years later, there is a much more noticeable difference in the calibrated vs. uncalibrated imagery.

After about 3.5 years, here is an un-recalibrated image.

After about 3.5 years, here is an un-recalibrated image.

After about 3.5 years, here is a recalibrated image.

After about 3.5 years, here is a recalibrated image.


Another seven years and the difference is really difficult to miss.

After about 11.5 years, here is an un-recalibrated image.

After about 11.5 years, here is an un-recalibrated image.

After about 11.5 years, here is a recalibrated image.

After about 11.5 years, here is a recalibrated image.

A summary poster graphic suitable for video or Hyperwall display.

A summary poster graphic suitable for video or Hyperwall display.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

This page was originally published on Friday, July 23, 2021.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 12:17 AM EST.

Missions

This visualization is related to the following missions:

Datasets used in this visualization

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