A report discusses an early phase in the development of the MISR-2 C, a second, improved version of the Multi-angle Imaging Spectro Radiometer (MISR), which has been in orbit around the Earth aboard NASA's Terra spacecraft since 1999. Like the MISR, the MISR-2 would contain a "pushbroom" array of nine charge-coupled-device (CCD) cameras-one aimed at the nadir and the others aimed at different angles sideways from the nadir. The major improvements embodied in the MISR-2 would be the following:
- A new folded-reflective-optics design would render the MISR-2 only a third as massive as the MISR.
- Smaller filters and electronic circuits would enable a reduction in volume to a sixth of that of the MISR.
- The MISR-2 would generate images in two infrared spectral bands in addition to the blue, green,red, and near-infrared spectral bands of the MISR.
- Miniature polarization filters would be incorporated to add a polarization - sensing capability.
- Calibration would be performed nonintrusively by use of a gimbaled tenth camera.
The main accomplishment thus far has been the construction of an extremely compact all-reflective-optics CCD camera to demonstrate feasibility.
This work was done by Steven Macenka, Larry Hovland, Daniel Preston, Brian Zellers, and Kevin Downing of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Physical Sciences category. NPO-35097
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Second-Generation Multi-Angle Imaging Spectroradiometer
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Overview
The document is a Technical Support Package for the Second-Generation Multi-Angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR-2), developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It outlines the advancements in imaging technology aimed at enhancing our understanding of Earth's atmosphere, ecology, and climate.
The MISR-2 Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) focuses on demonstrating critical technologies that support improved measurement capabilities while reducing resource requirements for future missions. The design of the MISR-2 instrument achieves significant reductions in size and mass—specifically, a 3x reduction in mass and a 6x reduction in volume compared to the original MISR instrument. This is accomplished through the use of lighter and smaller camera and electronic components.
MISR-2 introduces new scientific capabilities, including the addition of two shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands using InGaAs uncooled infrared detectors at wavelengths of 1.37 μm and 1.60 μm. It also features polarization sensing capabilities through miniature on-focal plane polarizer filters, enhancing its ability to gather data on atmospheric and surface phenomena.
The document emphasizes the importance of multi-angle and multi-spectral imaging for accurately assessing the Earth's climate. By capturing imagery in four spectral bands (blue, green, red, and near-infrared) at multiple angles, MISR provides a total of 36 image channels. This multi-angle approach is crucial for understanding how sunlight is scattered by clouds, aerosols, and surface features, which in turn affects climate modeling and environmental monitoring.
The IIP has successfully tested the end-to-end system, demonstrating the expected performance for this class of experiment. The reduced size and mass of the MISR-2 instrument open up opportunities for new multi-angle measurements and facilitate integration into smaller spacecraft for future NASA Earth Science missions.
The document also acknowledges the contributions of various individuals and organizations involved in the design and development of the MISR-2 camera, highlighting collaborative efforts that have made this project a success. Overall, the MISR-2 represents a significant advancement in remote sensing technology, poised to enhance our understanding of Earth's complex environmental systems.
