Understanding the origin of the Martian moons is the main objective of the JAXA MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) mission, that will be launched in October 2026. Among the 13 instruments composing the payload, MIRS is an infrared imaging spectrometer that will map the mineralogy and search for organic compounds on the moons’ surfaces. MIRS will also study the Martian atmosphere, focusing on the spatial and temporal variations of water, dust and clouds. MIRS is operating in the 0.9-3.6 μm spectral range with a spectral resolution varying from 22 nm to 32 nm. The field of view covers 3.3° whereas the instantaneous field of view is 0.35 mrad. This presentation will detail the design and present the end-to-end performance obtained during the final instrument test in a representative thermal environment.
Martian Moons eXplorer (MMX) is a sample-return mission of Phobos, the larger moon of Mars. To achieve the mission, a high-resolution 3D model of Phobos is essential, which requires a large number of high-resolution images to be sent back to Earth with enough quality before carrying out the landing activity. To realize this, the data transfer bandwidth is the bottleneck, and we adopt CCSDS 122.0-B-1 image compression, a variation of data compression based on the DWT method. This method allows us to select only one output quality for one image compression. On the other hand, the data transfer strategy shall be to transfer minimum-quality images first for quick looks and full-quality ones later. To realize this with the least computing power, we modified the method to output a low-quality full image and two supplemental data sets to better quality. This work is based on the CCSDS 122.0-B-1 implementation by a group of the University of Nebraska Lincoln.
MICADO is a first light instrument for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), set to start operating later this decade. It will provide diffraction limited imaging, astrometry, high contrast imaging, and long slit spectroscopy at near-infrared wavelengths. During the initial phase operations, adaptive optics (AO) correction will be provided by its own natural guide star wavefront sensor. In its final configuration, that AO system will be retained and complemented by the laser guide star multi-conjugate adaptive optics module MORFEO (formerly known as MAORY). Among many other things, MICADO will study exoplanets, distant galaxies and stars, and investigate black holes, such as Sagittarius A* at the centre of the Milky Way. After their final design phase, most components of MICADO have moved on to the manufacturing and assembly phase. Here we summarize the final design of the instrument and provide an overview about its current manufacturing status and the timeline. Some lessons learned from the final design review process will be presented in order to help future instrumentation projects to cope with the challenges arising from the substantial differences between projects for 8-10m class telescopes (e.g. ESO’s VLT) and the next generation Extremely Large Telescopes (e.g. ESO’s ELT). Finally, MICADO's expected performance will be discussed in the context of the current landscape of astronomical observatories and instruments. For instance, MICADO will have similar sensitivity as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), but with six times the spatial resolution.
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