Thermal emission spectrometer experiment: Mars Observer mission

The specific science objectives of this investigation are to determine (1) the composition and distribution of surface materials, (2) the composition, particle size, and spatial and temporal distribution of suspended dust, (3) the location, temperature, height, and water abundance of H₂0 clouds, (4) the composition, seasonal behavior, total energy balance, and physical properties of the polar caps, and (5) the particle size distribution of rocks and fines on the surface. The instrument consists of three subsections: a Michelson interferometer, a solar reflectance sensor, and a broadband radiance sensor. The spectrometer covers the wavelength range from 6 to 50 μm(~1600-200 cm^-1) with nominal 5 and 10 cm^-1 spectral resolution. The solar reflectance band extends from 0.3 to 2.7 μm; the broadband radiance channel extends from 5.5 to 100 μm. There are six 8.3-mrad fields of view for each sensor arranged in a 3 x 2 array, each with 3-km resolution at the nadir. -from Authors