Session
Session 5: Science / Mission Payloads I
Abstract
A highly miniaturized limb sounder for the observation of faint emissions in the atmosphere is presented. The selected technology is a Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometer (SHS). The throughput of a SHS is orders of magnitude larger than of a conventional grating spectrometer of the same size. Its monolithic design makes it extremely robust against vibrations and shocks. It can be designed to deliver spectra at very high spectral resolution to resolve individual emission or absorption lines, or even Doppler shifts to derive winds. The small mass and low energy consumption makes SHS instruments particularly suitable for the deployment on nano-satellites or as secondary payloads on satellite constellations. In this presentation we introduce an instrument for the measurement of temperature in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere by observing the ro- vibrational structure of the O2 atmospheric band at 762 nm in limb viewing geometry is presented. This instrument is suited to fly on a 3-6 unit CubeSat or as a secondary payload on a larger satellite.
A Highly Miniaturized Satellite Payload Based on a Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometer for the Detection of Faint Emissions in the Atmosphere
A highly miniaturized limb sounder for the observation of faint emissions in the atmosphere is presented. The selected technology is a Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometer (SHS). The throughput of a SHS is orders of magnitude larger than of a conventional grating spectrometer of the same size. Its monolithic design makes it extremely robust against vibrations and shocks. It can be designed to deliver spectra at very high spectral resolution to resolve individual emission or absorption lines, or even Doppler shifts to derive winds. The small mass and low energy consumption makes SHS instruments particularly suitable for the deployment on nano-satellites or as secondary payloads on satellite constellations. In this presentation we introduce an instrument for the measurement of temperature in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere by observing the ro- vibrational structure of the O2 atmospheric band at 762 nm in limb viewing geometry is presented. This instrument is suited to fly on a 3-6 unit CubeSat or as a secondary payload on a larger satellite.
