Wide Field / Planetary Camera-II for the Hubble Space Telescope

Abstract

The Wide Field / Planetary Camera-II will be available to replace the WF/PC at the first opportunity for in-orbit Shuttle maintenance and refurbishment of the Hubble Space Telescope. It is fundamentally an engineering “clone” of the original radial camera, which nevertheless incorporates a number of science and operational enhancements based on improved technologies. Generic WF/PC performance issues identified and understood early in the WF/PC-II program provide the opportunity for carefully considered, cost effective hardware refinements. The result is improved science performance and operational efficiency for WF/PC-II which will be highly visible to the GO astronomer, and will provide savings in data reduction and calibration overhead.

Biased-platinum-gate CCD technology is introduced for the eight imaging sensors, in order to provide long and short term QE stability while obviating the solar UV light channel. Signal chain electronics have been modified in several ways to improve science performance and operational efficiency. The WF/PC set of 48 filters has been reviewed and a number of modifications have been implemented. The WF/PC-II is well into construction at JPL, scheduled for delivery in late 1991.