Technological maturation of a Gigapixels Astrometry instrument for the Habitable World Observatory.
Abstract
This paper presents the development strategy for HWO-AGATE (Accurate Guiding and Astrometry Targeting Exoearths), a high-precision relative astrometry instrument concept designed for the future Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). The instrument is based on a gigapixel-class focal plane that incorporates the new generation of large-format GigaPyx CMOS sensors developed by Pyxalis. The proposed architecture relies on four 220-megapixel sensors assembled into a focal plane array and coupled with a dedicated calibration system to achieve the astrometric precision required for exoplanet detection and characterization. Preliminary study identified three major technological challenges. First, the performance of the 220-MP detectors must be validated against HWO's astrometric requirements. Second, the development of space-qualified packaging and integration solutions is required for a multi-sensor focal plane, while addressing the electrical and thermal constraints associated with the fast readout of large-format CMOS detectors. Third, an onboard calibration data-processing architecture must be implemented to reduce the raw data volume by approximately two orders of magnitude, enabling efficient operation within spacecraft resource limits. To address these challenges, we propose a comprehensive technology maturation program based on the construction of a representative end-to-end detection chain. The demonstration setup will include a partial focal plane equipped with 220-MP sensors, front-end electronics, a dedicated processing unit, and the calibration subsystem. The objective is to demonstrate compliance with HWO-AGATE requirements and to raise the maturity of large-format CMOS detector technology to Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL 5). Detector validation and space-qualified packaging activities are already supported through institutional funding and the French national PEPR ORIGINS program in the RETINA (Researching Exoplanets Through Imaging for Narrow-angle Astrometry) project.
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BibTeX
@misc{ardellierdesages2026technological,
title = {{Technological maturation of a Gigapixels Astrometry instrument for the Habitable World Observatory.}},
author = {Florence Ardellier-Desages and Jerôme Amiaux and Jérôme Bobin and Stéphane Chevobbe and Eric Doumayrou and Pierre-Antoine Frugier and Pierre-Olivier Lagage and Manon Lizzana and Fabien Malbet and Jerôme Martignac and Julien Michelot and Fabrice Pancher and Pichon Thibault and Samuel Ronayette and Hugo Rousset},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2610.06188},
eprint = {2610.06188},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.06188},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Technological maturation of a Gigapixels Astrometry instrument for the Habitable World Observatory.
AU - Florence Ardellier-Desages
AU - Jer{ô}me Amiaux
AU - J{é}r{ô}me Bobin
AU - St{é}phane Chevobbe
AU - Eric Doumayrou
AU - Pierre-Antoine Frugier
AU - Pierre-Olivier Lagage
AU - Manon Lizzana
AU - Fabien Malbet
AU - Jer{ô}me Martignac
AU - Julien Michelot
AU - Fabrice Pancher
AU - Pichon Thibault
AU - Samuel Ronayette
AU - Hugo Rousset
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2610.06188
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.06188
AB - This paper presents the development strategy for HWO-AGATE (Accurate Guiding and Astrometry Targeting Exoearths), a high-precision relative astrometry instrument concept designed for the future Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). The instrument is based on a gigapixel-class focal plane that incorporates the new generation of large-format GigaPyx CMOS sensors developed by Pyxalis. The proposed architecture relies on four 220-megapixel sensors assembled into a focal plane array and coupled with a dedicated calibration system to achieve the astrometric precision required for exoplanet detection and characterization. Preliminary study identified three major technological challenges. First, the performance of the 220-MP detectors must be validated against HWO's astrometric requirements. Second, the development of space-qualified packaging and integration solutions is required for a multi-sensor focal plane, while addressing the electrical and thermal constraints associated with the fast readout of large-format CMOS detectors. Third, an onboard calibration data-processing architecture must be implemented to reduce the raw data volume by approximately two orders of magnitude, enabling efficient operation within spacecraft resource limits. To address these challenges, we propose a comprehensive technology maturation program based on the construction of a representative end-to-end detection chain. The demonstration setup will include a partial focal plane equipped with 220-MP sensors, front-end electronics, a dedicated processing unit, and the calibration subsystem. The objective is to demonstrate compliance with HWO-AGATE requirements and to raise the maturity of large-format CMOS detector technology to Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL 5). Detector validation and space-qualified packaging activities are already supported through institutional funding and the French national PEPR ORIGINS program in the RETINA (Researching Exoplanets Through Imaging for Narrow-angle Astrometry) project.
ER -