CIRAS (CubeSat Infrared Atmospheric Sounder)

Enable hyperspectral infrared atmospheric sounding to measure temperature and water vapour.

Enable hyperspectral infrared atmospheric sounding on a CubeSat. Develop system capable of meeting the temperature and water vapor measurement requirements of the AIRS and CrIS instruments data products in the lower troposphere.

Demonstration mission of three key infrared (IR) sensing and cryogenic technologies designed to reduce the size and cost of future space-borne IR remote-sensing instruments. The method employed will use a infrared grating spectromter with infrared detectors and microcryocooler. The measurement will be made in the 4-5 micron spectral region.

Will demonstrate a critical science and meteorological measurement in a significantly smaller package enabling use in constellations for improved latency. It will advance the technology readiness level of the High Operating Temperature Barrier Infrared Detector, Coaxial Micro Pulse Tube CyroCooler and the Mid-Wavelength Infrared Radiance Grating Spectrometer to a seven.