KEYWORDS: Imaging systems, Sensors, Signal to noise ratio, Satellites, Space operations, Thermography, Near infrared, Calibration, Detector arrays, Aerospace engineering
A new class of thermal infrared (TIR) Earth Observation (EO) data will become available with the flight of miniature TIR EO instruments in a multiple micro-satellite constellation. This data set will provide a unique service for those wishing to analyse trends or rapidly detect anomalous changes in the TIR characteristics of the Earth’s surface or atmosphere (e.g. fire detection). Following a preliminary study of potential mission applications, uncooled commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology was selected to form the basis of a low-cost, compact instrument capable of complementing existing visible and near IR EO capabilities on a sub-100kg Surrey micro-satellite. The preliminary 2-3 kg instrument concept has been designed to yield a 325 m ground sample distance over a 200 km swath width from a constellation altitude of 700 km. The radiometric performance, enhanced with time-delayed integration (TDI), is expected to yield a NETD less than 0.5 K for a 300 K ground scene. Fabrication and characterization of a space-ready instrument is planned for late 2004.
KEYWORDS: Mid-IR, Imaging systems, Sensors, Microbolometers, Long wavelength infrared, Satellites, Signal to noise ratio, Aerospace engineering, Space operations, Infrared imaging
A new class of low-cost mid-wave infrared (MWIR) Earth observation (EO) data will become available with the flight of miniature MWIR EO instruments in micro-satellite constellations. Due to the frequent ground repeat times inherent in constellations, this data set would provide a unique alternative for those wishing to analyse trends or rapidly detect anomalous changes in the MWIR characteristics of the Earth's surface (e.g. fire detection) or atmosphere. To date, the MWIR imagers have been based on highly responsive cooled detector technology, which traditionally has been the only real option for collecting useful data in this waveband from space. However, state-of-the art microbolometers, adapted from their original design for operation in the LWIR, are thought to be a potential alternative for low-cost MWIR constellations. Following the laboratory evaluation of a modified microbolometer arrays in the MWIR, a low-mass instrument concept was designed and evaluated for a variety of candidate MWIR mission areas. If implemented, the imager concept would complement a larger imaging suite (visible, near IR, and long-wave IR) on a sub-100kg Surrey Space Technology Ltd. (SSTL) micro-satellite and open up several new potential mission areas for the SSTL-engineered Disaster Monitoring Constellation.
KEYWORDS: Imaging systems, Sensors, Signal to noise ratio, Thermography, Microbolometers, Satellites, Space operations, Commercial off the shelf technology, Detector arrays, Control systems
Following a survey of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) un-cooled infrared technology, a micro-bolometer array has been selected to form the basis of a low-cost, compact thermal infrared imager intended for use on an Earth observation micro-satellite. The preliminary instrument concept has been designed to yield a 500 metre ground sample distance over a 150 kilometre swath width, from 710 km altitude. The radiometric performance is expected to yield a NETD less than 1 K for a 300 K ground scene. The imager is designed to be compatible with Surrey’s existing microsatellite imagers, which operate in the visible and near-IR bands. The proposed imaging suite will be suitable for many thermal imaging and hot spot detection mission scenarios. Fabrication and characterization of a 1-3 kg space-ready instrument is planned for late 2004.
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