Miniature Low Power Submillimeter-Wave Spectrometer for Detection of Water in the Solar System

Abstract

The mass and power of a heterodyne spectrometer must be greatly reduced to satisfy small space mission constraints. We report on a 220 GHz receiver, requiring less than 4.8 W, with a mass of 1.25 kg. The mass and power savings are achieved through reducing components to a minimum, while providing performance for a Martian atmospheric sounder.