THERMAP: a mid-infrared spectro-imager for space missions to small bodies in the inner solar system

• Main Authors: Groussin, O, Licandro, J, Helbert, J, Reynaud, J. -L, Levacher, P, García-Talavera, M. Reyes, Alí-Lagoa, V, Blanc, P. -E, Brageot, E, Davidsson, B, Delbó, M, Deleuze, M, Delsanti, A, Garcia, J. J. Diaz, Dohlen, K, Ferrand, D, Green, S, Jorda, L, Álvarez, E. Joven, Knollenberg, J, Kührt, E, Lamy, P, Lellouch, E, Merrer, J. Le, Marty, B, Mas, G, Rossin, C, Rozitis, B, Sunshine, J, Vernazza, P, Vives, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 09-09-2015
• Subjects: Physics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics; Physics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1509.02725

We present THERMAP, a mid-infrared (8-16 {\mu}m) 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 microbolometers detectors, sensitive in the
mid-infrared spectral range. THERMAP can acquire thermal images (8-18 {\mu}m)
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
{\mu}m) of the surface with a spectral resolution {\Delta}{\lambda} of 0.3
{\mu}m. For surface temperatures above 350 K, spectra have a signal-to-noise
ratio >60 in the spectral range 9-13 {\mu}m where most emission features occur.