Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer for the Mars Exploration Rover

Steven Silverman, Richard Peralta, Philip Christensen, Greg Mehall

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper describes some details of the results of the calibration of the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) being built by Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing (SBRS) under contract to Arizona State University (ASU). This paper also serves as an update to an earlier paper (Peralta, et al, 2001) for mission description and instrument design. Mini-TES is a single detector Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS), covering the spectral range 5-29 microns (μm) at 10 cm -1 spectral resolution. Launched in June 2003, one Mini-TES instrument will fly to Mars aboard each of the two missions of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Project (MER), named Spirit and Opportunity. Mini-TES is designed to provide a key minerological remote sensing component of the MER mission, which includes several other science instruments. The first Mini-TES unit was required to meet a two-year development schedule with proven, flight-tested instrumentation. Therefore, SBRS designed Mini-TES based on proven heritage from the successful Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES), which was launched in 1996 and is still operational with over 500 million spectra collected to date. Mini-TES design, performance, integration onto the rovers, as well as details of the calibration are discussed. Full instrument and calibration details are the subject of an upcoming Journal of Geophysical Research Mini-TES paper by Christensen, et al.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
EditorsA.M. Larar, J.A. Shaw, Z. Sun
Pages75-89
Number of pages15
Volume5157
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003
EventOptical Spectroscopic Techniques and Instrumentation for Atmospheric and Space Research V - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Aug 7 2003Aug 8 2003

Other

OtherOptical Spectroscopic Techniques and Instrumentation for Atmospheric and Space Research V
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period8/7/038/8/03

Keywords

  • Fourier Transform Spectrometer
  • FTS
  • Mars Rover
  • Mineralogy
  • Remote Sensing
  • Thermal Emission

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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