THERMAP: a mid-infrared spectro-imager for space missions to small bodies in the inner solar system
/ Authors
O. Groussin, J. Licandro, J. Helbert, J. Reynaud, P. Levacher, M. Reyes García-Talavera, V. Alí-Lagoa, P. Blanc, E. Brageot, B. Davidsson
and 21 more authors
M. Delbo’, M. Deleuze, A. Delsanti, J. J. Diaz Garcia, K. Dohlen, D. Ferrand, S. Green, L. Jorda, E. Joven Álvarez, J. Knollenberg, E. Kührt, P. Lamy, E. Lellouch, J. Merrer, B. Marty, G. Mas, C. Rossin, B. Rozitis, J. Sunshine, P. Vernazza, S. Vives
/ Abstract
We present THERMAP, a mid-infrared spectro-imager for space missions to small bodies in the inner solar system, developed in the framework of the MarcoPolo-R asteroid sample return mission. THERMAP is very well suited to characterize the surface thermal environment of a NEO and to map its surface composition. The instrument has two channels, one for imaging and one for spectroscopy: it is both a thermal camera with full 2D imaging capabilities and a slit spectrometer. THERMAP takes advantage of the recent technological developments of uncooled microbolometer arrays, sensitive in the mid-infrared spectral range. THERMAP can acquire thermal images (8–18 μm) of the surface and perform absolute temperature measurements with a precision better than 3.5 K above 200 K. THERMAP can acquire mid-infrared spectra (8–16 μm) of the surface with a spectral resolution Δλ of 0.3 μm. For surface temperatures above 350 K, spectra have a signal-to-noise ratio >60 in the spectral range 9–13 μm where most emission features occur.
Journal: Experimental Astronomy