Haosheng Lin, HI-Spectral LLC & Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii; Morgan Bonnet, HI-Spectral LLC & Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii
https://doi.org/10.64861/UJIA4193
Keywords: snapshot hyperspectral imaging, spectroscopy
Abstract:
Compact Hyperspectral Imager for Space Situational Awareness (CHISSA) is a Snapshot HyperSpectral Imagers (HSIs) that can collect imaging and spectroscopic information of targets in low earth orbits simultaneously with high cadence. For large targets, the addition of spectra from different part of the targets is a powerful object chemical fingerprinting capability that provide additional information of the targets beyond what can be obtained by imaging. For cubesats in LEO or geostationary orbits (GEO) targets that cannot be spatially resolved from the ground, the imaging capability of snapshot HSIs enable wide-field search and acquisition of the targets. Compared with conventional long-slit spectrographs, the imaging capability of the snapshot HSIs allows them to collect all the photons emitted by the targets to achieve high SNR in the spectra.
CHISSA is based on a new, proprietary Machined Image slicer Compact Spectrograph (MICS) architecture developed at the University of Hawaii for astronomical research. A new instrument called Flare Sentinel funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) has been successfully constructed recently. Flare Sentinel is a 96 x 50 x 2500 (x, y, lambda) snapshot HSI optimized for the 340 to 490 nm spectral window with a spectral sampling size of 0.05 nm for the observation of the hydrogen Balmer series spectral lines during flares. However, the MICS architecture is applicable for IR applications also. This paper will describe the design and capabilities of Flare Sentinel. We will present new commissioning data of the sun, as well as laboratory test for chemical fingering printing of various objects. We will also discuss how this technology can be used for space situational awareness and a broad range of other DoW applications.
Date of Conference: September 15-18, 2026
Track: SDA Systems & Instrumentation