Cassini CIRS Post Launch Support
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
CIRS is an interferometer on board Cassini covering the frequency range 10 - 1400 cm-1 ( 7 to 1000 microns ) with a resolution of 0.5 cm-1. This very wide spectral range includes spectral signatures of many atmospheric gases and CIRS can be used to detect new species, particularly hydrocarbons, to map known species, and to measure vertical profiles of temperature and abundance. CIRS development was led by Goddard Space Flight Center but Oxford University was heavily involved in the instrument design, development and fabrication. The UK funded hardware contributions were a cooler and focal plane assembly for the middle infrared and polarising grids (from QMW, now Cardiff) for the far infrared. This grant support the continued operation of the instrument including planning of sequences of observations and processing of the raw data returned.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Simon Calcutt (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Bowles N
(2012)
Investigation of new band parameters with temperature dependence for self-broadened methane gas in the range 9000 to 14,000cm-1 (0.71 to 1.1µm)
in Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer
Hurley J
(2012)
Latitudinal variation of upper tropospheric NH3 on Saturn derived from Cassini/CIRS far-infrared measurements
in Planetary and Space Science
Jennings D
(2012)
FIRST OBSERVATION IN THE SOUTH OF TITAN'S FAR-INFRARED 220 cm -1 CLOUD
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jennings D
(2012)
SEASONAL DISAPPEARANCE OF FAR-INFRARED HAZE IN TITAN'S STRATOSPHERE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jennings D
(2015)
EVOLUTION OF THE FAR-INFRARED CLOUD AT TITAN'S SOUTH POLE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Taylor FW
(1998)
Investigation of Saturn's atmosphere by Cassini
in PLANETARY AND SPACE SCIENCE
Teanby NA
(2012)
Active upper-atmosphere chemistry and dynamics from polar circulation reversal on Titan.
in Nature
| Description | This award covered successful operation of the Cassini CIRS instrument while in Saturn orbit. A large number of publications on a wide range of features of the Saturn system were possible |
| Exploitation Route | This award was for operational support and would only be of use to experimenters operating a similar instrument under similar conditions. |
| Sectors | Other |
| Description | Cassini CIRS Post Launch Support 2011/2012 |
| Amount | £43,722 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/J004545/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2011 |
| End | 12/2012 |
| Description | Instrument development with NASA GSFC |
| Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
| Department | Goddard Space Flight Center |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Design of optics, focal planes, filter assemblies and structural elements of space instruments. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We are working with GSFC to develop instrumentation for new missions which will result in joint proposals for remote sensing and lander instruments |
| Impact | Study reports instrument proposals in preparation |