The Spectropolarimeter for Planetary Exploration - SPEX

SPEX (Spectropolarimeter for Planetary EXploration) is an innovative, compact remotesensing instrument for measuring and characterizing aerosols in the atmosphere. The shoebox size instrument is capable of accurate full linear spectropolarimetry without moving parts or liquid crystals. High precision polarimetry is performed through encoding the...

Sinplex: A small integrated navigation system for planetary exploration

SINPLEX is a sensor suite for spacecraft navigation purposes. This paper addresses the current status of the SINPLEX prototype and the systems engineering process that has led to this status. The SINPLEX prototype is currently being integrated with the aim to demonstrate Technology Readiness Level 4, i.e. a component and/or breadboard validation...

Prototyping for the Spectropolarimeter for Planetary EXploration (SPEX): calibration and sky measurements

We present the Spectropolarimeter for Planetary EXploration (SPEX), a high-accuracy linear spectropolarimeter measuring from 400 to 800 nm (with 2 nm intensity resolution), that is compact (~ 1 liter), robust and lightweight. This is achieved by employing the unconventional spectral polarization modulation technique, optimized for linear...

Spectropolarimeter for planetary exploration (SPEX): performance measurements with a prototype

SPEX (Spectropolarimeter for Planetary Exploration) was developed in close cooperation between scientific institutes and space technological industries in the Netherlands. It is used for measuring microphysical properties of aerosols and cloud particles in planetary atmospheres. SPEX utilizes a number of novel ideas. The key feature is that full...

SPEX: The Spectropolarimeter for Planetary Exploration

We present SPEX, the Spectropolarimeter for Planetary Exploration, which is a compact, robust and low-mass spectropolarimeter designed to operate from an orbiting or in situ platform. Its purpose is to simultaneously measure the radiance and the state (degree and angle) of linear polarization of sunlight that has been scattered in a planetary...

SPEX: the SPectropolarimeter for planetary EXploration

SPEX (Spectropolarimeter for Planetary EXploration) is an innovative, compact instrument for spectropolarimetry, and in particular for detecting and characterizing aerosols in planetary atmospheres. With its ∼1-liter volume it is capable of full linear spectropolarimetry, without moving parts. The degree and angle of linear polarization of the...

Moon4You: A first Dutch footprint on the moon

Moon4You is an initiative led by the Dutch Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, with partners from industry and universities in the Netherlands that aims to provide a combined Raman/LIBS instrument as scientific payload for lunar exploration missions, and specifically for Odyssey Moon's MoonOne mission, slated for launch in the...

Engineering planetary exploration systems: Integrating novel technologies and the human element using work domain analysis

The realisation of sustainable space exploration and utilisation requires not only the development of novel concepts and technologies, but also their successful integration. Hardware, software, and the human element must be integrated effectively to make the dream for which these technologies were created a reality. Work Domain Analysis (WDA),...

Space autonomy as migration of functionality: The mars case

This paper develops Grandjean and Lecouat's insight that spacecraft autonomy can be seen as the migration of functionality from the ground segment to the space segment. Their insight is extended to manned planetary exploration missions and applied to an IT-based crew assistant for supporting manned and unmanned Martian operations. The Mission...

Cognitive engineering for long duration missions: Human-machine collaboration on the moon and mars

For manned long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, there is a need for a Mission Execution Crew Assistant (MECA) that empowers the cognitive capacities of human-machine teams during planetary exploration missions in order to cope autonomously with unexpected, complex and potentially hazardous situations. MECA requirements are being derived...

Design approach of closed loop food systems in space

Interest on food production systems based on the cultivation of vegetables for future planetary exploration missions is increasing as these units can help overcoming difficult and costly re-supply logistics. In addition to producing edible biomass by growing vegetable species, these systems can be used in closed loop configuration with bio...