Serious Microsats Need Serious Instruments, MIBS and the First Results

Abstract

To go beyond the point where micro satellites are seen as a way to qualify technology for use on a “real” satellite, small instruments are needed that can perform a socially or scientifically significant task. MIBS is a spectrometer operating in the thermal infrared wavelength region, designed in the frame of the phase A study for the ESA EarthCARE mission, which uses an uncooled 2D microbolometer array detector instead of the more common MCT detectors, which allows for a significant reduction in size, and power consumption. Although the detectivity of microbolometers is less then for MCT detectors, they offer specific advantages due to the wider wavelength response, which can be tailored to suit the application. This allows the design of an instrument that can image both the 3⃛5 and 8⃛12 micron bands simultaneously, and which can be seen as an instrument that can be used to assist in weather prediction during everyday use (its original goal) and in addition be used for forest fire detection and monitoring. In order to demonstrate feasibility of the concept a breadboard has been designed and built of which the first measurement results are presented here.