Faceted Mirror Multiband Imager

The goal of this work is to complete assembly and testing of the Faceted Mirror Multiband Imager (FMMI). Previously under the PICASSO program (16-PICASO16_2-0074) we completed manufacture of all of the FMMI subsystems. However, as a result of fabrication delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we were unable to complete integration of the imager components and instrument testing under the PICASSO award ($1M). All instrument components are now ready for integration and testing. We therefore request a small amount of funding ($70 K) in order to complete instrument assembly and testing under laboratory conditions to advance the technology to NASA Technology Readiness Level 4. This multiband imager will obtain simultaneous two-dimensional imaging at short-, mid- and long-infrared wavelengths, and deliver non-saturated, wide dynamic range images of transient, rapidly-changing thermal events, a breakthrough technology that currently does not exist. The main objectives of this work are: 1. Complete assembly and testing of the FMMI. 2. Validate that the developed imager meets requirements for an Io Observer New Frontiers-class mission. Scientific justification: The thermal emission from Io’s volcanoes contains compositional information which reflects the state of Io’s interior, with implications for the zone of habitability within the Jovian system; for the identification of volcanically-active exoplanets; and for constraining the composition of hypothesized erupting lava on Venus. Io’s extraordinary volcanism presents unique observational challenges. Thermal emission radiance from Io’s volcanoes spans more than six orders of magnitude and volcano behavior is highly unpredictable. Based on past experiences with Galileo instruments, two criteria must be met to measure the eruption temperature of Io’s dominant silicate lavas (likely between 1400 K and 1900 K) and therefore meet the science objectives of an Io Observer mission. The first observation criterion is obtaining unsaturated, multi-wavelength data of the hottest (>1400 K) exposed areas present. The second is obtaining these multi-wavelength data simultaneously and quickly, overcoming uncertainty introduced into temperature measurements caused by rapid cooling between observations (a problem, with, for example Galileo Solid State Imaging experiment data of Io’s volcanoes). The requirements for making these vital measurements are as follows: a dynamic range >100 dB to capture an unsaturated image regardless of pixel colour temperature, thus enabling: (a) measurement of the full range of lava and surface temperatures present in the range 90 K to 1900 K; (b) temperature resolution of better than 50 K for temperatures >1000 K; and (c) an exposure time of no more than 0.01s. Relevance: FMMI would enable the necessary observations to be made of Io’s volcanism, greatly enhance science return from any mission. An Io Observer mission is one of the five mission concepts proposed for the New Frontiers 5 call in NASA’s latest Planetary and Astrobiology Decadal Survey “Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032” (NAS, 2022).

Development of new proof-of-concept instruments, systems or components, including sampling technologies, that significantly improve instrument measurement capabilities to address high priority science goals of planetary missions.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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