WatSen: design and testing of a prototype mid-IR spectrometer and microscope package for Marsexploration

Wolters, S. D.; Hagene, J. K.; Sund, A. T.; Bohman, A.; Guthery, W.; Sund, B. T.; Hagermann, A.; Tomkinson, T.; Romstedt, J.; Morgan, G. H. and Grady, M. M. (2013). WatSen: design and testing of a prototype mid-IR spectrometer and microscope package for Marsexploration. Experimental Astronomy, 36(1-2) pp. 175–193.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-012-9328-8

Abstract

We have designed and built a compact breadboard prototype instrument called WatSen: a combined ATR mid-IR spectrometer, fixed-focus microscope, and humidity sensor. The instrument package is enclosed in a rugged cylindrical casing only 26 mm in diameter. The functionality, reliability and performance of the instrument was tested in an environment chamber set up to resemble martian surface conditions. The effective wavelength range of the spectrometer is 6.2–10.3 μm with a resolution ∆λ/λ = 0.015. This allows detection of silicates and carbonates, including an indication of the presence of water (ice). Spectra of clusters of grains <1 mm across were acquired that are comparable with spectra of the same material obtained

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