Calibration and Performance of the High Resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (HVM; 3; ) on Lunar Trailblazer
Journal Article
Overview
abstract
Abstract; This article reports on the initial calibration and performance of the High‐resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (), slated for launch on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Lunar Trailblazer mission. is an imaging spectrometer measuring from 600 to 3,600 nm with 10‐nm spectral sampling and 50–90 m/pixel ground sampling. The mission goal is to understand the form, abundance, and distribution of water across the lunar surface and the lunar water cycle, accomplished by measuring the distinct absorptions of water ice, adsorbed O, and OH/hydroxl while controlling for thermal effects with . also has the ability to measure mineralogical composition. has been assembled, tested and calibrated in preparation for launch and integrated on the Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft. We review the design, calibration process, results, and implications for Lunar Trailblazer science goals. We find ’s radiometric sensitivity is sufficient to confidently measure 1% differences in absorption band strengths under direct solar illumination in single pixel data. In addition, has the radiometric precision to discriminate different species of volatile absorptions at irradiances of 1 W , which will enable mapping and discriminating water ice or other volatiles within most of the Moon's Permanently Shadowed Regions using terrain‐scattered illumination.
