Bibcode
Groussin, O.; Licandro, J.; Helbert, J.; Reynaud, J. L.; Levacher, P.; Reyes García-Talavera, M.; Alí-Lagoa, V.; Blanc, P. E.; Brageot, E.; Davidsson, B.; Delbó, M.; Deleuze, M.; Delsanti, A.; Diaz Garcia, J. J.; Dohlen, K.; Ferrand, D.; Green, S. F.; Jorda, L.; Joven Álvarez, E.; Knollenberg, J.; Kührt, E.; Lamy, P.; Lellouch, E.; Le Merrer, J.; Marty, B.; Mas, G.; Rossin, C.; Rozitis, B.; Sunshine, J.; Vernazza, P.; Vives, S.
Bibliographical reference
Experimental Astronomy, Volume 41, Issue 1-2, pp. 95-115
Advertised on:
2
2016
Journal
Citations
3
Refereed citations
3
Description
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.