The growth of the small satellite market and launch opportunities for these satellites is creating a new niche for earth observations that contrasts with the long mission durations, high costs, and long development times associated with traditional space-based earth observations. Low-cost, short-lived missions made possible by this new approach provide an experimental platform for testing new sensor technologies that may transition to larger, more long-lived platforms. The low costs and short lifetimes also increase acceptable risk to sensors, enabling large decreases in cost using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts and allowing early-career scientists and engineers to gain experience with these projects. We are building a low-cost long-wave infrared spectral sensor, funded by the NASA Experimental Project to Stimulate Competitive Research program (EPSCoR), to demonstrate ways in which a university's scientific and instrument development programs can fit into this niche. The sensor is a low-mass, power-efficient thermal hyperspectral imager with electronics contained in a pressure vessel to enable use of COTS electronics and will be compatible with small satellite platforms. The sensor, called Thermal Hyperspectral Imager (THI), is based on a Sagnac interferometer and uses an uncooled 320x256 microbolometer array. The sensor will collect calibrated radiance data at long-wave infrared (LWIR, 8-14 microns) wavelengths in 230 meter pixels with 20 wavenumber spectral resolution from a 400 km orbit. We are currently in the laboratory and airborne testing stage in order to demonstrate the spectro-radiometric quality of data that the instrument provides.
A low cost thermal infrared hyperspectral imager for small satellites
Sensors and Systems for Space Applications V ; 2012 ; Baltimore,Maryland,United States
Proc. SPIE ; 8385
2012-05-07
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
A low cost thermal infrared hyperspectral imager for small satellites [8385-07]
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2012
|A low cost thermal infrared hyperspectral imager for small satellites (Invited Paper) [8044-24]
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2011
|SUCHI: The Space Ultra-Compact Hyperspectral Imager for small satellites [8739-1]
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2013
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