The goal of the proposed phase I and subsequent phase II effort is to provide optimized focal plane cable interconnections in far-IR focal plane arrays. An informal survey of contractors has confirmed that there is a general need for more detailed performance and reliability data and that the design of such LWIR systems would benefit from the proposed effort. The specific objective of this phase I proposal is to define, through survey and preliminary testing, the primary design and performance goals of a baseline "generic" focal plane cable to be fabricated and evaluated under a phase II effort.
