Multispectral Imaging Compact Radiometer (MICR)

The Multispectral Imaging Compact Radiometer (MICR) pairs wide field of view, all reflective optics with advanced thermal infrared detectors. The result enables high quality thermal imaging with an ability to obtain highly accurate temperature measurements across the full range of thermal environments present on the Moon. The lunar thermal environment is extreme with equatorial regions experiencing diurnal temperatures of <100 to 400 K, while permanently shadowed regions near the poles are limited to only 30 to 60 K each day. Our concept includes an optical/mechanical design compatible with two different types of thermal infrared detectors to enable mission-specific optimization of the instrument. Furthermore, to maintain sensitivity to the full range of lunar thermal environments, MICR will utilize the same microthermopile technology employed at the Moon by the Diviner Lunar Radiometer (Diviner) on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). JPL has developed and tested new higher density arrays that will fly on the Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment (PREFIRE) mission. The MICR funded development would modify the existing design to create a fully 2-D imaging array. In addition we will test, integrate, and flight qualify a COTS broadband microbolometer from INO.

MICR’s science investigation would broadly address the following four science objectives, which would be tailored to specific lander locations: 1) Characterize the diurnal (and seasonal for polar) thermal environment of the landing site. 2) Characterize the local thermophysical properties, including the distribution and abundance of rocks, regolith particle size, and packing as measured by thermal inertia and surface roughness. 3) Characterize local composition including abundances of silicates and oxides. 4) Map and characterize any nearby cold traps where water-ice may be thermally stable on the lunar surface or in the subsurface.

MICR would provide unique capabilities on the lunar surface: no existing thermal camera design would achieve the performance required to meet all four science objectives while also being compact enough to be easily accommodated on small commercial landers and rovers. Overall, the entry TRL of MICR is 4, with subsystems ranging between TRL 4 and TRL 6. We expect to exit this project with a TRL of 6.