IRIS - an Integrated Remote Imaging System - External environment remote sensing from suborbital reusable launch vehicles

This flight demonstration entails integration, flight testing, and post-flight characterization of accomodating a remote sensing payload system on the Blue Origin New Shepard reusable suborbital launch vehicle. The enhancement consists of the IRIS: Integrated Remote Imaging System, which is held inside a ruggedized Blue Origin payload locker, and consists of an Applied Physics Lab (APL) provided Visible-Shortwave Infrared Spectrometer, with its optical feed mounted on an APL-provided flight-proven 2-axis gimbal, both controlled by the flight proven JANUS interface electronics. The system will be mounted on the upper ring of the Propulsion Module (PM).

Integrated Remote Imaging System (IRIS) will broaden the availability of remote scientific observations by demonstrating COTS hardware within a space environment aboard a sub-orbital platform. Remote sensing instruments are generally flown aboard expensive orbiting spacecraft with expensive custom hardware. Commercial space industry, academia and NASA will benefit from the lower costs demonstrated by this new remote-sensing architecture.

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