The Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) instrument is scheduled to fly on NASA's Cassini mission to Saturn. CIRS operates at 170 Kelvin and utilizes two Michelson interferometers to measure the infrared spectrum between 7.1 and 1000 microns. The Mid-InfraRed interferometer (MIR) is a classical Michelson design operating in the 7.1 to 16.7 micron band. The Far-InfraRed interferometer (FIR) is a polarizing Michelson design measuring the 16.7 to 1000 micron band. Both the MIR and FIR use retroreflector elements rather than flat mirrors. The MIR requires hollow cube corner style retroreflectors while the FIR polarizing nature requires roof-top mirror style retroreflectors. Initial testing of available technology indicated that interferometric quality retroreflectors do exist in ambient temperatures. Tests were performed using commercially available mounted and unmounted cube corners and commercial cube corners mounted to GSFC designed mounts to characterize their cryogenic, interferometric performance. The Goddard Space Flight Center's ambient and cryogenic test and results are presented here.

Date Published: 23 June 1994
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 2227, Cryogenic Optical Systems and Instruments VI, (23 June 1994); doi: 10.1117/12.178594

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2227:
Cryogenic Optical Systems and Instruments VI
James B. Heaney; Lawrence G. Burriesci, Editor(s)