P5.11 Application and Design of Satellite Infrared Spectral Imaging Radiometers with Uncooled Microbolometer Array Detectors

Uncooled array detectors offer a number of advantages for space borne infrared array imaging. The elimination of detector cooling requirements can significantly reduce the size, cost and power requirements systems. Integration of the instrument to a spacecraft is much simplified due to reduced thermal management requirements. An array of detectors permits imaging without mechanical scanning. In addition an array may be exploited to provide information on the angular distribution of radiation simultaneously to spectral radiance. The potential limitation of uncooled infrared detectors is reduced sensitivity. Other issues are stability and calibration. Over the last five years the use of infrared imaging radiometers based on uncooled microbolometer array detectors has been studied and tested. A prototype instrument was flown as a hitchhiker experiment on the space shuttle in 1997 (Spinhirne et al., 1999). The performance and application of data has been extensively studied. The hitchhiker experiment is now followed by a project to develop an engineering model of an operational imaging radiometer for low earth orbit. In addition the use of uncooled infrared array detectors for geosynchronous and other satellite applications has significant potential.