Airborne imaging spectrometer: A new tool for remote sensing

Thc first of a new class of remote sensing instruments is described. The Airborne Imaging Spectrometer represents the first use of two-dimensional integrated infrared area arrays in a scientific application. The instrument images 32 cross-track pixels simultaneously, each in 128 spectral bands la the 1.2- to 2.4-μ region. The IFOV of the instrument is 1.9 mrad per pixel and the spectral sampling interval is 9.6 nm. Plans include upgrading the detector from the current 32 × 32 element HgCdTe CCD array to a 64 × 64 element array in 1985. Science and engineering data are currently being actively gathered with the instrument.