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.