(U) Improved Spectral Imager

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)

Overview: (U)
(U) Improved Spectral Imagers could improve the measurement capability for fog/low cloud/high cloud discrimination, detecting soil moisture content, and vegetation/terrain types.  Some possible systems include commercial multispectral imager systems used for earth resources monitoring, such as LANDSAT or SPOT, could supplement NPOESS data; the drawback is that these images are usually not available for days to weeks after they're initially obtained.  This would not meet warfighter requirements.  

Description: (U)
(U) There are several different types of spectral imagery that could be used.  These include : multispectral imagery (MSI), which includes tens of channels; hyperspectral imagery (HSI), which includes hundreds of channels; and ultraspectral imagery (USI), which contains thousands of channels.  Improved Spectral Imagers may also provide measurement capability for several Naval requirements, such as bathymetery and littoral sediment transport.  Another option is to include using polarization effects in conjunction with spectral imagery in order to detect more features with added clarity and accuracy.  This is called spectropolarimerty and is under development at several government labs.

User Impact: (U)
(U) To be supplied.

Programmatics: (U)
(U) Concept/Technology.
	(U) IOC: 10/2004 (1QFY2005).

Related Initiatives: (U)
(U) Cloud Profiling System, NPOESS, Soil Moisture Sensor

Related Requirements: (U)
(U) None.

Related Categories: (U)
(U) Space-Based Sensors

Road Map Placements: (U)
(U) ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING.

Lead Office: (U)
(U) Air Force.

Date of Information: (U)
21 November 1997

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)