Visible Light Sensor.

The work was primarily concerned with examination of optical systems for employment in the detection of faintly visible objects. The general problems of image quality, field of view, focal surface definition, throughput, optical form, out-of-field source rejection, and sensitivity to thermal and radiation effects of the environment are specific with solutions directed to minimize size and weight. The parameters that are summarized are for three candidate step and stare systems, that is to say, a system that searches the sky by serially examining contiguous areas of angular space, dwelling staring long enough at each site to effect detection and then moving into the next segment. A good design allows close approach to earth limb to assure overlap with current space track detection capability, and allows close approach to the sun to minimize blind regions of operational outage.