Multislit optimized spectrometer for ocean color remote sensing

The National Research Council’s recommended NASA Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) science mission’s purpose is to identify “human versus natural sources of aerosols and ozone precursors, track air pollution transport, and study the dynamics of coastal ecosystems, river plumes and tidal fronts.” To achieve these goals two imaging spectrometers are planned, one optimized for atmospheric science and the other for ocean science. The NASA Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) awarded the Multislit Optimized Spectrometer (MOS) Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) to advance a unique dispersive spectrometer concept in support of the GEO-CAPE ocean science mission. MOS is a spatial multiplexing imaging spectrometer that simultaneously generates hyperspectral data cubes from multiple ground locations enabling a smaller sensor with faster revisit times compared to traditional concepts. This paper outlines the science, motivation, requirements, goals, and status of the MOS program.