Abstract
C-LIFE is a landed camera suite, suitable for Ocean World surfaces,
consisting of a color Context Reconnaissance Stereo Imager and an LED
flashlight that can also identify biogenic material through
fluorescence. The C-LIFE design leverages ongoing work (with industry
partners Space Dynamics Lab, SRI International and Ball Aerospace) from
our ICEE-2 and COLDTech awards in low-temperature detector
qualification, radiation modeling and mechanical design. It takes
advantage of our development work on the Descent Imager for Europa
Hazard Avoidance and Radiation Durability (DIEHARD) and camera
development on other missions. The C-LIFE camera head is mounted on the
Europa Lander’s high gain antenna, which provides tilt and pan
capability. Minimal electronics in the camera head control and read out
the detector and LEDs. Electronics in the lander vault perform most
camera functions and image processing. C-LIFE contains no moving parts.
In lieu of a focus mechanism, C-LIFE utilizes high F/number optics and a
field of view elongated in the vertical direction with progressive focus
from top (infinity e.g. imaging horizon) to bottom (close e.g. imaging
sample delivery port). Strip filters (that match Europa Clipper’s Europa
Imaging System) on the detectors and partly-overlapping images provide
color coverage. Heaters warm C-LIFE to operating temperatures, allowing
self-heating to take over, but otherwise the camera is unheated in order
to conserve energy. We combine two independent eyes into one mechanical
housing (Figure 1) with a dual periscope design, which reduces the
mechanical envelope, shielding mass, heating energy and total cabling
distance. We use LEDs in three bands to illuminate and to excite
fluorescence. Fluorescence excited by these three bands can identify the
presence of key metabolic biomarkers and discriminate the quantities of
live cells, dead cells and spores in a terrestrial setting. Figure 1. A
dual-periscope design, with eyes 20 cm apart, folds optical trains
(incoming rays in gray) to mutually shield focal planes. Fold mirrors
locate LEDs inside the camera for shielding.