MIMA, a miniaturized Fourier spectrometer for Mars ground exploration: Part II. Optical design

S. Fonti; G. A. Marzo; R. Politi; G. Bellucci; B. Saggin

doi:10.1117/12.737912

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26 October 2007 MIMA, a miniaturized Fourier spectrometer for Mars ground exploration: Part II. Optical design

S. Fonti, G. A. Marzo, R. Politi, G. Bellucci, B. Saggin

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Proceedings Volume 6744, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XI; 67441R (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.737912
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2007, Florence, Italy

Abstract

The Mars Infrared MApper (MIMA) is a FT-IR miniaturised spectrometer which is being developed for ESA ExoMars Pasteur mission. MIMA will be mounted on the rover mast and so it must be compact and light-weight. The scientific goals and its thermo-mechanical design are presented in two companion papers [1] and [2]. In this work the optical design will be reviewed and the results of the tests performed on some optical components will be presented. The design has faced challenging constraints mainly linked to the requirement of keeping the performances good enough to fulfil the scientific objectives of the mission, while, at the same time, it was imperative to keep the overall size and weigh within the allocated resources. In addition the instrument must be able to operate in the very harsh environment of the Martian surface and to withstand, without permanent damage, even harsher conditions as well as the severe dynamic loads expected at landing on Mars. The chosen solution is a single channel double pendulum interferometer, covering the spectral range between 2 and 25 micron, crucial for the scientific interpretation of the recorded spectra, with a resolution variable between 10 and 5 cm-1. Since the spectral range is too wide to be covered by a single detector, it has been decided to use two different detectors, mounted side by side, in a customised case. Such innovative solution has obviously pros and cons and the optical design has been driven by the need to reduce the inconveniences, while maintaining the advantages.

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S. Fonti, G. A. Marzo, R. Politi, G. Bellucci, and B. Saggin "MIMA, a miniaturized Fourier spectrometer for Mars ground exploration: Part II. Optical design", Proc. SPIE 6744, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XI, 67441R (26 October 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.737912

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