Modification of the ocean PHILLS hyperspectral imager for the International Space Station and the HyGEIA program

The Naval Research Laboratory and the Boeing Company have teamed to fly the NRL ocean Portable Hyperspectral Imager for Low Light Spectroscopy (ocean PHILLS) on board the International Space Station (ISS). This joint program is named the Hyperspectral Sensor for Global Environmental Imaging and Analysis (HyGEIA). Hyperspectral images spanning the wavelength range 400 to 1000 nm will be collected at a ground sample distance of 25 m, with 10 nm spectral binning, and 200 to I signal to noise over the visible wavelengths for a 5% albedo scene. These images will be used to characterize the coastal ocean and littoral zone, crops, and forest areas. The PHILLS will also image over the same wavelength range at 130 m GSD to produce similar environmental products over a larger ground area. This paper will describe the modification of PHILLS required for use on the ISS, the modeled on orbit performance,. and the planned on orbit configuration.