Date of Award:

8-2024

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

Charles Swenson

Committee

Charles Swenson

Committee

Jacob Gunther

Committee

Todd Moon

Committee

Bela Fejer

Committee

David Geller

Committee

Allan Marchant

Abstract

Monitoring methane emissions from space is essential for reducing global warming. This dissertation introduces the Filter Incidence Narrowband Infrared Spectrometer (FINIS), a compact, lightweight instrument designed for nanosatellites to accurately measure methane emissions. FINIS uses two innovative imaging spectrometers to capture the Earth's reflected light, focusing on the strongest methane absorption feature at 1666 nm. By using tiled interference filters, each imager collects detailed spectral data, allowing precise methane detection. FINIS has been significantly improved from its prototype to its space-ready version, set to launch on the ACMES CubeSat in late 2025. The new design includes a binocular optical system and an onboard calibration unit, enabling accurate measurements independent of surface reflectance. Radiometric analysis shows that FINIS can achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio under various lighting conditions, ensuring reliable methane measurements. Simulations confirmed FINIS's ability to detect methane plumes, demonstrating its data acquisition and processing methods. Preliminary tests and calibrations, including focus, stereo camera, and methane cell calibrations, verified the instrument's performance. Future work will focus on integrating FINIS into the ACMES bus and validating its performance post-launch. FINIS's successful deployment will enhance global methane monitoring efforts, contributing to the fight against climate change.

Checksum

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Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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