Advanced THEMIS for Multispectral Thermal IR Imaging

Advanced THEMIS is a project to define and develop to breadboard stage, a miniature infrared imaging radiometer with applications to Mars orbiter and lander missions and missions to other bodies of the outer and inner solar system. The goal is to maintain or enhance functionality of the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), recently delivered to the Mars 2001 Odyssey Orbiter, while reducing volume by approx. 75%. Other improvements expected are a broadened spectral range and improved radiometric calibration. A new generation of microbolometer detectors will be tested and further developed. These detectors have a new structure and smaller pitch, 25 microns vs. 50 microns used for THEMIS. Advanced THEMIS will be a substantially smaller instrument than THEMIS, so it will reduce the cost of multispectral thermal emission imaging on future missions. Candidate missions include future landed and orbiting platforms at Mars and other solar system objects where priority science requires multispectral imaging in the thermal infrared. The reduction in instrument mass may greatly improve mission science return compared to previous technical approaches. Advanced THEMIS offers opportunities for science data return in at least three areas: surface mineralogy, surface temperature dynamics, and atmospheric phenomena, similar to the return from Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) now in operation . Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.