Miniaturized Spectral Imaging Instrumentation for Planetary Exploration

In this paper, we introduce a novel concept for miniaturized spectral imaging instrument which can be used for different planetary exploration missions. The instrument design utilizes a modular approach, so it is easily tailored for different mission profiles. It can be fitted in ca. 1 CubeSat unit, thus making it suitable for all CubeSat sizes from 2U upwards. Depending on the mission requirements, the instrument can perform measurements from 0.5 μm up to 4 μm, The visible and near-infrared (0.5 μm - 1.6 μm) components have already been flown and validated in low Earth orbit.