Optical sensors and equipment — ECCN 6A002
Controls space-qualified detectors, focal plane arrays and image intensifier tubes that meet named wavelength, timing and photocathode thresholds.
The entry, quoted as it reads today
a. Optical detectors as follows: a.1. “Space-qualified” solid-state detectors as follows: Note: For the purposes of 6A002.a.1, solid-state detectors include “focal plane arrays”. a.1.a. “Space-qualified” solid-state detectors having all of the following: a.1.a.1. A peak response in the wavelength range exceeding 10 nm but not exceeding 300 nm; and a.1.a.2. A response of less than 0.1% relative to the peak response at a wavelength exceeding 400 nm; a.1.b. “Space-qualified” solid-state detectors having all of the following: a.1.b.1. A peak response in the wavelength range exceeding 900 nm but not exceeding 1,200 nm; and a.1.b.2. A response “time constant” of 95 ns or less; a.1.c. “Space-qualified” solid-state detectors having a peak response in the wavelength range exceeding 1,200 nm but not exceeding 30,000 nm; a.1.d. “Space-qualified” “focal plane arrays” having more than 2,048 elements per array and having a peak response in the wavelength range exceeding 300 nm but not exceeding 900 nm; a.2. Image intensifier tubes and “specially designed” “components” therefor, as follows: Note: 6A002.a.2 does not control non-imaging photomultiplier tubes having an electron sensing device in the vacuum space limited solely to any of the following: a. A single metal anode; or b. Metal anodes with a center to center spacing greater than 500 µm. Technical Note: For the purposes of 6A002.a.2, 'charge multiplication' is a form of electronic image amplification and is defined as the generation of charge carriers as a result of an impact ionization gain process. 'Charge multiplication' sensors may take the form of an image intensifier tube, solid state detector or “focal plane array”. a.2.a. Image intensifier tubes having all of the following: a.2.a.1. A peak response in the wavelength range exceeding 400 nm but not exceeding 1,050 nm; a.2.a.2. Electron image amplification using any of the following: a.2.a.2.a. A microchannel plate with a hole pitch (center-to-center spacing) of 12 µm or less; or a.2.a.2.b. An electron sensing device with a non-binned pixel pitch of 500 µm or less, “specially designed” or modified to achieve 'charge multiplication' other than by a microchannel plate; and a.2.a.3. Any of the following photocathodes: a.2.a.3.a. Multialkali photocathodes ( e.g., S-20 and S-5) having a luminous sensitivity exceeding 350 µA/lm; a.2.a.3.b. GaAs or GaInAs photocathode
Corpus last verified 2026-08-29. Skenai never shows unquoted regulation.
In plain language
6A002.a covers the sensing part itself rather than a finished camera. The first block is space-qualified solid state detectors, sorted into named wavelength bands from 10 nm to 30,000 nm. Space-qualified focal plane arrays above 2,048 elements appear separately.
The second block is image intensifier tubes and their specially designed components. A controlled tube meets 3 conditions together: peak response between 400 nm and 1,050 nm, a listed amplification structure, and a listed photocathode. The amplification structure is a microchannel plate with hole pitch of 12 micrometres or less.
Photocathode type does much of the sorting. Multialkali cathodes above 350 microamps per lumen and GaAs or GaInAs cathodes are named. A note removes non-imaging photomultiplier tubes with a single metal anode, or anodes spaced more than 500 micrometres apart.
The questions this entry turns on
- 01Is the detector space-qualified, and does its peak response fall in one of the named wavelength bands?
- 02Does the space-qualified focal plane array have more than 2,048 elements with peak response between 300 nm and 900 nm?
- 03Does the intensifier tube use a microchannel plate with hole pitch of 12 micrometres or less?
- 04Does the tube use a multialkali photocathode above 350 microamps per lumen, or a GaAs or GaInAs photocathode?
- 05Is the device a non-imaging photomultiplier limited to a single metal anode, which the note removes?
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What typically falls in, and what typically falls out
Typically in
- A space-qualified short-wave infrared focal plane array flown on a smallsat, which typically reads onto 6A002.a.1.c
- A third generation GaAs image intensifier tube, typically caught by 6A002.a.2.a
- A space-qualified 4,096-element visible array, typically caught by 6A002.a.1.d
Typically out
- A terrestrial CMOS image sensor in a machine-vision camera, typically not space-qualified
- A silicon photodiode used in a bench instrument, typically outside the named detector categories
- A photomultiplier tube with a single metal anode, typically removed by the note to 6A002.a.2
These are typical cases, not determinations. Which side a specific product lands on turns on the answers in the Interview.
Adjacent entries
- Cameras, systems and equipment — ECCN 6A00315 CFR 774, Supplement No. 1, ECCN 6A003
- Imaging systems under fire control, laser, imaging and guidance equipment — USML Category XII22 CFR 121.1, Category XII(c)
- Specially designed — 22 CFR 120.4122 CFR 120.41
Does your product land on this entry?
The Interview asks 5 to 9 questions, only the ones this entry turns on, and names the Determination free. The Dossier is the dated, cited record of how it was reached.
Free, no account. Dossier $249 if you want the record.