Optical design of the High Resolution Imaging Channel of SIMBIO-SYS

Area of Science:

• Planetary science
• Optical engineering
• Space instrumentation

Background:

• Mercury presents extreme environmental challenges for spacecraft instrumentation.
• The BepiColombo mission requires advanced remote sensing capabilities for Mercury's surface investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the optical design of the High Resolution Imaging Channel (HRIC).
• To enable high-resolution imaging and spectroscopic investigation of Mercury.
• To meet stringent scientific requirements for the SIMBIO-SYS instrument suite.

Main Methods:

• Optimization of the optical design for the HRIC.
• Consideration of the harsh Mercury surface environment during design.
• Integration of the HRIC within the SIMBIO-SYS suite.

Main Results:

• The optical design successfully meets the requirement of 5 m ground sampling at 400 km altitude.
• The HRIC is designed to operate effectively in Mercury's extreme conditions.

Conclusions:

• The developed HRIC optical design is suitable for high-resolution imaging of Mercury.
• The design supports the scientific objectives of the BepiColombo mission.