Ultraviolet and visible imaging and spectrographic imaging (UVISI) experiment

James F. Carbary; Edward Hugo Darlington; Kevin J. Heffernan; Terry J. Harris; Ching-I. Meng; Mark J. Mayr; Patrick J. McEvaddy; Keith Peacock

doi:10.1117/12.179940

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22 July 1994 Ultraviolet and visible imaging and spectrographic imaging (UVISI) experiment

James F. Carbary, Edward Hugo Darlington, Kevin J. Heffernan, Terry J. Harris, Ching-I. Meng, Mark J. Mayr, Patrick J. McEvaddy, Keith Peacock

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Proceedings Volume 2217, Aerial Surveillance Sensing Including Obscured and Underground Object Detection; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.179940
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1994, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

The ultraviolet and visible imaging and spectrographic imaging (UVISI) experiment consists of five spectrographic imagers and four imagers. These nine sensors provide spectrographic and imaging capabilities from approximately equals 110 nm to approximately equals 900 nm. The spectrographic imagers (SPIMs) share an off-axis parabolic design in which selectable slits (1.00 degree(s) X 0.10 degree(s) or 1.00 degree(s) X 0.05 degree(s)) provide spectral resolutions between approximately equals 0.5 nm and approximately equals 4.0 nm. SPIM image planes have programmable spectral dimensions with 68, 136, or 272 pixels and programmable spatial dimensions with 5, 10, 20, 40 pixels. A scan mirror sweeps the slit through a second spatial dimension and generates a spectrographic image once every 5, 10, or 20 seconds. The four imagers provide narrow-field and wide-field viewing. Each imager has a six-position filter wheel that selects various spectral regimes and neutral densities. Each of the nine sensors use intensified CCD detectors that have an intrascene dynamic range of approximately equals 10³ and an interscene dynamic range of approximately equals 10⁵; neutral density filters provide an additional dynamic range of approximately equals 10^2-3. An automatic gain control adjusts the intensifiers to scenes of varying intensity. UVISI also includes an image processing system that uses the raw data from any single imager to acquire and track targets of various sizes, shapes, and brightnesses. The image processor relays its results to a master tracking system that uses the UVISI data (as well as other data) to point the satellite in real time. UVISI will be launched on the MSX satellite in late 1994 and will investigate a multitude of celestial, atmospheric, and point sources during its planned five-year lifetime.

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James F. Carbary, Edward Hugo Darlington, Kevin J. Heffernan, Terry J. Harris, Ching-I. Meng, Mark J. Mayr, Patrick J. McEvaddy, and Keith Peacock "Ultraviolet and visible imaging and spectrographic imaging (UVISI) experiment", Proc. SPIE 2217, Aerial Surveillance Sensing Including Obscured and Underground Object Detection, (22 July 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.179940

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