Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Henderson, B. D..
Infrared absorption spectrometer with dual wave length monochromator has several valuable features: 3.4 by 1.6 inch size; accuracy within plus or minus 5% from 0 to 30 mm Hg; instantaneous and temperature-independent response time; negligible O2 and N2 effects and less than 0.5% water vapor effect; 2.5 W power consumption; no moving parts; and 1.5 and 30 mm Hg CO2 in range.
The SBUV/TOMS measures the atmospheric ozone vertical profile and the solar ultraviolet spectrum, and provides a total ozone map by means of a mechanical scan across the Nimbus track. While the SBUV/TOMS instrument has noteworthy design features such as a state-of-the-art double monochromator and fixed optical components on a nonmetallic structure, its most significant characteristic is an optimum system design based on technology proven on the BUV instrument.
The paper examines the tradeoffs performed in optimizing the optical design of the solar backscatter ultraviolet/total ozone mapping spectrometer (SBUV/TOMS) experiment on Nimbus G to stringent performance requirements within the limitations of the spacecraft interface. The SBUV portion of the experiment incorporates a double monochromator optimized for better than 1.0 A spectral resolution over the wavelength range 1600-4000 A. The TOMS portion of the experiment is a stepped line scanning system with a 105-deg total field of view. Special techniques are used to reduce the polarization sensitivity of the instrument to less than 5% for 100% linearly polarized incident radiation and to keep the spectral stray light to less than 0.000001 of the incident solar spectrum. Optical material selection is imperative in order to minimize the effects of fluorescence and phosphorescence arising from the bombardment of particulate radiation in space.
Design modifications to Mars atmospheric water detection spectrophotometer
Optical analysis to find optimal design for multidetector grating spectrometer
Optical design analysis of double-pass Littrow monochromator for Mars atmospheric water detection spectrophotometer
Mars atmospheric water detection spectrophotometer
Calibration monochromator for measuring quantitative performance of infrared spectrometers used in space
Optical design for infrared spectrophotometer and telescope for Mars flyby spacecraft