HYSICS (HyperSpectral Imager for Climate Science )

HySICS is a spectrometer capable of measuring outgoing Earth-reflected radiation with unprecedented accuracy relative to the incident sunlight.

The intent of HySICS is to demonstrate radiometric accuracies better than 0.2% in the shortwave spectral region (350 - 2,300 nm) at resolutions <8 nm. The instrument images scenes onto a single focal plane array which covers this solar and near infrared spectral region containing most of the Sun's emitted energy. Using a single array allows HySICS to be smaller and lighter than other spatial/spectral imager designs, enabling cost, mass, volume, and power savings for future space-based Earth Observing missions.

Balloon launched on: 9/29/2013 at 13:39 utc
Launch site: Scientific Flight Balloon Facility, Fort Sumner, (NM), US  
Balloon launched by: Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon  
Flight identification number: 647N
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 9/30/2013 at 21:30 utc
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): ~ 8 h
Landing site: SE of Shamrock, Texas, US

• First results from the hyperspectral imager for climate science (HySICS) Proc. SPIE 9088, Algorithms and Technologies for Multispectral, Hyperspectral, and Ultraspectral Imagery XX, 90880Q
• LASP balloon launches with first-of-its-kind test instrument Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado
• NIST Carbon Nanotube Chips Go Ballooning for Climate Science National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) website
• Planetary Scientists Get Into Balloon Game VOA's Science World
• Quick Facts: HyperSpectral Imager for Climate Science (HySICS) Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics - University of Colorado