TIRCIS: thermal infrared compact imaging spectrometer for small satellite applications

TIRCIS (Thermal Infra-Red Compact Imaging Spectrometer), uses a Fabry-Perot interferometer, an uncooled microbolometer array, and push-broom scanning to acquire hyperspectral image data. Radiometric calibration is provided by blackbody targets while spectral calibration is achieved using monochromatic light sources. The instrument has a mass of <10 kg and dimensions of 53 cm × 25 cm × 22 cm. The optical design yields a 120 m ground sample size given an orbit of 500 km. Over the wavelength interval of 7.5 to 14 microns up to 90 spectral samples are possible. Our performance model indicates signal-to-noise ratios of 400-800:1.