Nanosatellite distributed far infrared radiometers

L. Ngo Phong; F. Châteauneuf

doi:10.1117/12.814248

23 February 2009 Nanosatellite distributed far infrared radiometers

L. Ngo Phong, F. Châteauneuf

Proceedings Volume 7208, MOEMS and Miniaturized Systems VIII; 72080L (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.814248
Event: SPIE MOEMS-MEMS: Micro- and Nanofabrication, 2009, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

This paper reports on the design and analysis of two miniature far infrared radiometers to be distributed on low Earth orbit by means of two formation flying nanosatellites. These instruments are intended for the coregistration of the Earth's limb profiles in the emission bands of CO₂ and H₂O, 14-16 um and 24.3-26.1 um. Their purposes are to produce a new database of navigational horizon characteristics and to support the investigations of the atmospheric outgoing radiation in the far infrared spectrum. Miniaturization technologies have been used to ensure compliances of the radiometer with an average power consumption of 400 mW, a mass of 500 g, and an envelope of 10⁵×10⁵×100 mm³. The optics of the radiometer was designed to achieve adequate throughput for a vertical resolution of 2.8 km of the limb. It was shown that good optical performance could be obtained in the far infrared using small lens assemblies. The sensor consists of a linear array of 256×2 custom designed microbolometers whose absorptance characteristics were tailored to the working spectral band. Computed data on the sensor performance confirmed its suitability for the acquisition of limb targets with typical temperature profile of 220-300 K at the above spatial resolution. The data acquisition is to be performed in sequences of measurement of 14 s with one orbital period between sequences until the latitude coverage is completed. This duty cycle was found compatible with the downlink and storage capacity of the nanosatellite.

Citation Download Citation

L. Ngo Phong and F. Châteauneuf "Nanosatellite distributed far infrared radiometers", Proc. SPIE 7208, MOEMS and Miniaturized Systems VIII, 72080L (23 February 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.814248

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