Title: Compact Midwave Imaging System (CMIS)
Presenting Author: Michael A. Kelly
Organization: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Co-Author(s): Dong Wu, NASA Goddar Sam Yee, JHU/APL John Boldt, JHU/APL Karl Hibbitts, JHU/APL

Abstract:
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) is developing a compact, light-weight, and low-power mid-infrared (MWIR) imager, the Compact Midwave Imaging Sensor (CMIS), under the support of NASA ESTO Instrument Incubator Program (IIP). The goal of this CMIS instrument development and demonstration (IIP-IDD) project is to increase the technical readiness of multi-spectral sensors at MWIR for high spatial resolution stereo imaging of clouds so as to enable 3D wind and cloud height observations during both day and night. Until recently, only cryogenically cooled detector technologies such as InSb and HgCdTe at MWIR have been available for space applications. Because of the reliance of these technologies on closed-cycle coolers, these heritage MWIR sensors tend to fly on large spacecraft and require large size, weight, and power (SWaP). CMIS is a low-cost, small-SWaP solution based on a thermoelectrically cooled sensor from the emerging low noise lead salt (PbSe) array detector technology. Requiring low resources, CMIS allows MWIR imagers to be accommodated on smaller spacecraft such as CubeSats, which will enable a multi-satellite constellation to meet NASA science objectives for 3D wind observations at high spatial resolution and frequent revisit time. In this paper, we will present an overview of the CMIS project, including the sensor design, concept of operations, and its measurement capability