Overall scheme and on-orbit images of Chang'E-2 lunar satellite CCD stereo camera

The goals of engineering and scientific missions for Chang'E-2 lunar satellite require high detection sensitivity and large imaging dynamic range for the onboard CCD cameras. The TDI CCD image sensor was adopted for the two linear CCD stereo cameras for the first time in the lunar reconnaissance of the world. The design argumentation is described in this paper. The analysis shows that the imagers meet the mission requirements. The satellite was launched on 1 October 2010 at zero window. The cameras obtained images of 7 m resolution on the 100 km orbit for the first time on 24 October 2010, and operated once again on 27 October 2010 to take stereo images of the Sinus Iridum with the resolution better than 1.5 m. On the near-moon-arc of 15 kmx100 km elliptical orbit, the images are very clear and rich of grey scales, indicating successful completion of the Chang'E-2 engineering mission. At the present the cameras are acquiring the full lunar surface stereo images with 7 m resolution on the 100 km circular orbit to complete their scientific mission.