Hyperspectral imaging payload for the NASA small satellite technology initiative program

This paper describes the design and performance of the Hyperspectral Imager payload (HSI) currently being built for the NASA Small Satellite Technology Initiative (SSTI) program by TRW. The HSI is an Earth Observing, imaging spectrometer which combines two grating spectrometers and a panchromatic camera into one compact unit. The instrument produces images in 384 contiguous, uniform spectral bands between 0.4 /spl mu/m and 2.5 /spl mu/m. The hyperspectral images have 30 meter spatial resolution. A 5 meter panchromatic camera allows further spatial enhancement (sharpening) of the hyperspectral image. The optical system, focal places and electronics are described. In-flight calibration features maintain radiometric accuracy of the instrument data, which is essential for the range of scientific, commercial and educational applications planned. HSI will fly on the "Lewis" spacecraft in 1996 and will be the first hyperspectral imager in space.