Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate

Detector Characterization Lab (DCL)

Category: Facilities
Five engineers in white coveralls called "bunny suits" working in the Detector Characterization Laboratory for testing of detectors for flight and technology developments
Detector Characterization Laboratory for testing of detectors for flight and technology developments

Comprehensive Optical and Electrical Characterization Facility

The DCL is a flight qualified facility for complete optical and electrical characterization from individual detectors to large format focal plane arrays operating from the UV and Visible to the far-IR spectrum and from sub-Kelvin to ambient temperatures.  The facility enables the design and execution of testing throughout a project life cycle from R&D of cutting-edge detector technologies to full characterization of spaceflight detectors.  The DCL has tested detectors flying on HST, JWST, Landsat, Euclid, New Horizons, LUCY, OSIRIS-REx, PACE, and more.

The Roman Space Telescope Mosaic Plate assembly. The plate has 18 detectors, each no larger than a sticky note, that together will capture the widest views of the universe ever taken from space.
The Roman Space Telescope Mosaic Plate assembly. The plate has 18 detectors, each no larger than a sticky note, that together will capture the widest views of the universe ever taken from space.

The Detector Characterization Lab (DCL) is managed by ETD’s Instrument Systems and Technology Division (ISTD). Contact ISTD for more information.