Sun  ID: 4911

Aging (Instruments) in Space

Visualizations by Tom Bridgman Released on July 23, 2021
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.

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A view of AIA 304 shortly after the start of science operations when the instrument was 'like new'.
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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).
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After less than a year, we see a small degradation in performance in this un-recalibrated image.
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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.
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After about 3.5 years, here is an un-recalibrated image.
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After about 3.5 years, here is a recalibrated image.

Another seven years and the difference is really difficult to miss.
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After about 11.5 years, here is an un-recalibrated image.
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After about 11.5 years, here is a recalibrated image.
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A summary poster graphic suitable for video or Hyperwall display.

For More Information

NASA.gov

Visualization Credits

Tom Bridgman (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Lead Visualizer
William D. Pesnell (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Susannah Darling (ADNET): Writer
Britt Griswold (LUSA Associates): Graphic Designer
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4911

Mission:
SDO

Data Used:
SDO/AIA/304 Filter also referred to as: AIA 304
JOINT SCIENCE OPERATIONS CENTER
view all stories where this data set is used
Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

Keywords:
SVS >> Hyperwall
SVS >> SDO
SVS >> Solar Dynamics Observatory
SVS >> Heliophysics
SVS >> Ultraviolet Imagery
SVS >> Corona
NASA Science >> Sun
SVS >> EUV Imaging