: DIVINER

+ Official Diviner web site

Principal Investigator for Diviner : David Paige
Earth and Space Science Dept., University of California Los Angeles, CA 90024 ; 310 825-4266

Goals

The objective of Diviner is to measure lunar surface temperatures at scales that provide essential information for future surface operations and exploration. The temperature of the lunar surface and subsurface is a critical environmental parameter for future human and robotic exploration. While the Apollo missions were all targeted to equatorial landing sites and were only conducted during the lunar day. NASA's new lunar exploration program will involve exploration of a much wider range of latitudes, and astronaut stays of longer than two weeks. Both types of missions involve considerably more challenging thermal environments, and will benefit greatly from a comprehensive global thermal mapping dataset that Diviner will provide. Orbital thermal mapping measurements provide detailed information on key engineering parameters such as surface and subsurface temperatures, as well as valuable constraints on landing hazards such as rough terrain or rocks.

Measurement goals of the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment.

+ Map global day/night surface temperature
+ Characterize thermal environments for habitability
+ Determine rock abundances at landing sites and globally
+ Identify potential polar ice reservoirs
+ Search for near-surface and exposed ice

DIVINER is a multi-channel solar reflectance and infrared filter radiometer The major elements of the Diviner radiometer are shown in Figure 1.2-1. Diviner is a nine-channel filter radiometer that utilizes uncooled thermopile detector arrays. Diviner's spectral channels are distributed between two identical, boresighted telescopes, and an articulated elevation/azimuth mount allows the telescopes to view the Lunar surface, space, and calibration targets. The instantaneous field-of-view (FOV) response of each channel is defined by a linear, 21-element, thermopile detector array at the telescope focal plane, and its spectral response is defined by a focal plane bandpass filter.

The Diviner structure consists of an instrument optics bench assembly (OBA), an elevation/azimuth yoke, and an instrument mount. The OBA contains all of the instrument optical subassemblies, and is suspended from the yoke. Elevation and azimuth motors mounted on the yoke drive instrument articulation. The OBA is temperature controlled, and internal temperature gradients are minimized by design. Radiometric calibration is provided by views of blackbody and solar targets mounted on the yoke. The electronics subassemblies control signal processing, instrument operation and articulation, command processing, and data processing and are distributed between the OBA and the yoke.

Image Above : The MRO MCS radiometer during final assembly prior to fitting of thermal blankets. Diviner