Speaker
Mr
Nuno José Pereira
(BIRA-IASB)
Description
The SOLAR/SOLSPEC instrument, on board the International Space Station measuring the Solar Spectral Irradiance (SSI) from the UV to the NIR has been decommissioned last February 2017. A direct consequence is that no more European instrumentation are contributing to the SSI measurement. Monitoring of the UV spectrum variability is a fundamental input for the stratospheric ozone chemistry.
Such instrumentation, however, represented a major challenge in terms of calibration but also regarding space environment related degradation issues.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a new generation of instruments measuring the SSI, using already developed, sound and compact technologies in order to minimize cost and size, able to fit in CubeSat-like missions. We propose Acoustic Optic Tunable Filter (AOTF) crystals as technological solution for being the central wavelength selection device of a new generation of SSI instruments.
AOTF crystal-based spectrometers do not require optical moving parts presenting therefore an advantage over the often bulky optical design of holographic gratings-based spectrometers. They also provide fast spectral scans, are compact and robust with low power consumption.
The high Technological Readiness Level (TRL) of the AOTF in the infrared range, is a heritage of successful planetary observation missions instruments such as SOIR on Venus Express (VEx) and NOMAD on ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. AOTFs are functional in the visible part of the spectrum and are currently under development for the ultraviolet range.
A quantification of the in-flight performances of SOIR during the whole Vex mission, focusing on the radiometric stability of the AOTF and performances of the light detection chain as well as a discussion on the advantages and drawbacks of AOTF compared to current SSI instruments is presented.
Primary author
Mr
Nuno José Pereira
(BIRA-IASB)
Co-authors
Dr
Ann Carine Vandaele
(BIRA-IASB)
Dr
Arnaud Mahieux
(BIRA-IASB)
Mr
David Bolsée
(BIRA-IASB)
Dr
Dominique Sluse
(IASB)
Dr
Emmanuel Dekemper
(BIRA-IASB)
Dr
Gaël Cessateur
(BIRA-IASB)
Mr
Loïc Trompet
(BIRA-IASB)
