An important need for studies of the thermospheric chemistry and dynamics is multispectral information on the emissions over a broad wavelength range. An instrument that has been developed to meet this need is the Imaging Spectrometric Observatory which is currently undergoing integration for flight on the Shuttle Spacelab 1 mission (mid-1983). The instrument represents the coincidence of three major factors: the pay-load capacity of the Shuttle which permits the placing into orbit of a sufficiently large and comprehensive spectrometric system; the recent advances in solid state imaging detector components which have permitted use of very fast multiplexing detectors; and the maturing of knowledge of the thermosphere permitting clear identification of the desired measurements. The instrument consists of an array of five imaging spectrometers. The instrument has been designed in a modular fashion to permit variation in instrument parameters on subsequent flights. For the first flight the typical spectral resolution is 3 Ae (6 Ae below 1200 Ae). The sensitivity has been selected to permit coverage of a large dynamic range extending from weak nocturnal signals (about 1R) to the bright earth (about 107 R/Ae). The instrument has a microcomputer system which is located in the Spacelab module itself allowing payload crew interaction with the observation sequences.
Spectroscopic imaging of the thermosphere from the Space Shuttle
Spektroskopische Abbildung der Thermosphaere vom Space Shuttle aus
Applied Optics ; 21 , 22 ; 4130-4145
1982
16 Seiten, 21 Bilder, 5 Tabellen, 25 Quellen
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch
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