High-Altitude, Long-Endurance, Visible Through Extended SWIR Hyperspectral Imaging for Earth Sciences

NASA has identified long-endurance, sub-orbital, stratospheric observations from High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) as a key future capability for the Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) mission and supporting the needs of commercial and government organizations for ecological, climate, earth resource and emergency management information. A key source of data for SBG and other applications is hyperspectral imaging (HSI) over the Visible through Short Wave Infrared spectral region (VSWIR). VSWIR HSI systems have been flown on aircraft below 50,000 ft and recently on low-Earth orbiting satellites. However, these platforms do not meet the combined wide-area coverage, spatial resolution, station keeping and long duration diurnal measurement requirements of SBG measurement campaigns. A HAPS VSWIR HSI solution is therefore an important science mission objective for NASA. Spectral Sciences Inc proposes an innovative combination of our rugged Terrestrial Hyperspectral Imaging Apparatus (THIA) VSWIR HSI and the Sceye Inc. Stratospheric HAPS to meet SBG sensing needs. In Phase I, SSI developed a concept for the THIA-HAPS payload and preliminary mission plan for a THIA-HAPS demonstration flight. In Phase II, our team proposes to fly the THIA-HAPS payload, in a 14-day demonstration of HAPS capability to collect VSWIR HSI imagery from 50,000 to 60,000 ft.

THIA-HAPS has a number of potential NASA applications: • Diurnal and seasonal observations of plant chemistry and physiology – VSWIR HSI has been demonstrated to measure a wide variety of plant properties. The Sceye LTA has propulsion and therefore can be directed for revisits of a site any time of day • Target specific sites and regions for continuous observations – The Sceye LTA with propulsion is able to remain geo-stationary or can make multiple passes over a site for months. • Measure changing earth surface properties for ecology and climate assessment – With a combination of daily monthly or seasonal VSWIR HSI measurements. • Quick response support to disaster monitoring – SWIR HSI can see through smoke and can evaluate fire damage. A Sceye LTA in flight could be directed to a crisis area and will be high enough to avoid interference with emergency aircraft. • Agricultural crop monitoring - Plant health and drought indicators with VSWIR HSI. • Industrial emissions monitoring – Methane and greenhouse gases – Methane is detectable to 1000 ppm-m or better depending on conditions. • Disaster management – Continuous monitoring of wildfires, floods, earthquakes – VSWIR HSI can discover changes over time, with Sceye LTA on station and out of the way of emergency personnel. • Geospatial mapping – Changes due to climactic and sudden events. • Geothermal exploration – hidden vents from surrounding plants and minerals. Non-NASA applications are extensions of NASA applications to civil and commercial interests. There is significant interest in geospatial mapping of the earth including characterization of agricultural plant health and monitoring for drought and pest indicators, geological and geothermal characterization. The THIA-HAPS system could be deployed to support emergency response teams for observation of active wildfires, and damage assessment for large scale environmental disturbances including fires, floods, earthquakes and landslides. At 50kft, the system would be out of the way of emergency aircraft. Our partner, Sceye has plans to build and field a fleet of LTA platforms by 2030. They have a requirement to equip each one with VSWIR HSI sensors. Their in-kind contribution of a ride-share on Phase II is an indication of their interest in evaluating THIA-HAPS for use in their fleet.

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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