Scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have engineered a new compact, lightweight, high-resolution imaging spectrometer designed specifically for space usage. This innovative research introduces spectrometers that are one-tenth the size and weight of traditional designs, and significantly cheaper, paving the way for novel applications.
NASA’s team of researchers has created an affordable, lightweight imaging spectrometer designed for space use. These novel designs offer high-resolution spectroscopy in a small package, potentially broadening their use in atmospheric research.
Researchers have crafted a new, downsized, and lighter design for space-oriented imaging spectrometers that offer high spectral resolution. These high-dispersion imaging spectrometers could be deployed on spacecraft or satellites to examine Earth’s atmosphere or the atmospheres of other celestial bodies.
James P. McGuire, Jr. from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California is scheduled to unveil this new research at the Optica Design and Fabrication Conference, slated for June 4 – 8, 2023, in Quebec City, Canada. “This spectrometer offers the same measurement capabilities as traditional designs, but at just one-tenth the size and weight and at a reduced cost. Smaller, lighter, and more affordable opens up new applications and markets,” McGuire stated.
Imaging spectroscopy, also referred to as hyperspectral imaging, gathers information across the electromagnetic spectrum for each pixel in the image of a scene. When conducted from space, it’s generally used to observe solids or liquids, necessitating high spatial resolution and low spectral resolution. However, there’s a demand for smaller, lighter-weight space-oriented imaging spectrometers that collect atmospheric data, which necessitates high spectral resolution and low spatial resolution.
In their groundbreaking work, the researchers outline near-infrared (NIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) imaging spectrometer designs that could help meet this demand. These spectrometer designs incorporate beneficial features from various existing designs, including an immersed grating that shrinks the grating size by as much as the refractive index, a Littrow optical configuration that uses the same optics before and after the grating, and a grating on a spherical surface to simplify the correction of an optical error known as Petzval field curvature. Gratings break white light into its component spectrum of colors.
The researchers have designed an NIR imaging spectrometer that spans a spectral range from 2302 nm to 2370 nm with 2,048 spectral pixels and 512 spatial pixels at an aperture of f/1.9. By using different materials, they also designed a LWIR version that ranges from 8 μm to 12 μm with 1536 spectral pixels and 256 spatial pixels at f/1.7.
Table of Contents
What is the new development in imaging spectrometers?
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory researchers have created a compact, lightweight imaging spectrometer for space use. It is high-resolution and one-tenth the size and weight of conventional designs, significantly less expensive, and enables a range of new applications.
Who is responsible for this new development?
James P. McGuire, Jr., and his team from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California are behind this development.
Where and when will the research be presented?
The research will be presented at the Optica Design and Fabrication Conference, taking place from June 4 to 8, 2023, in Quebec City, Canada.
What does an imaging spectrometer do?
An imaging spectrometer, or hyperspectral imaging, gathers information across the electromagnetic spectrum for each pixel in an image. In space, it’s typically used to observe solids or liquids requiring high spatial resolution and low spectral resolution. The new designs allow for atmospheric data collection, which requires high spectral resolution and low spatial resolution.
What are some of the unique features of the new spectrometer designs?
The new spectrometer designs merge desirable aspects from several existing designs. These include an immersed grating that reduces the grating size, a Littrow optical configuration that uses the same optics before and after the grating, and a grating on a spherical surface to simplify the correction of an optical error known as Petzval field curvature.
What are the spectral ranges covered by the new spectrometer designs?
The near-infrared (NIR) imaging spectrometer design covers a spectral range from 2302 nm to 2370 nm. The long-wave infrared (LWIR) version covers a range from 8 μm to 12 μm. Both designs have distinct spectral pixels and spatial pixels at a specific aperture.
Related links:
- NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Overview of Imaging Spectrometers
- Optica Design and Fabrication Conference
5 comments
Wow! this is pretty impressive stuff. Never knew they could make these spectrometers so small and light! And cheaper too, thats a bonus.
Really interesting read, the future of space tech seems to be getting lighter and smaller, and I’m here for it. Just imagine the possibilities!!
these NASA guys are geniuses. smaller, lighter AND cheaper, now that’s what i call innovation. keep up the good work folks.
It’s amazing how far we’ve come in terms of space tech. Looking forward to seeing what these new spectrometers can do in the field!
ErikTheRed
: this is cool but, what exactly does a spectrometer do? Need to do some googling I guess. Still, amazing work NASA!