Innovative Common Laboratory for Space Spectroscopy – INCLASS

Recently, there is an increase in the use of spectro-imagers in space missions for astronomy and Earth observations. The main challenge for their exploitation is the combination of data sets from different instruments or satellites to produce improved data products, and to reconstruct high quality images and spectra when the information was initially incomplete in each of these data sets.

The LAB4S2 will combine the imagery & research expertise of IAS and the spectroscopic & engineering expertise of ACRI-ST in order to develop novel methodologies for spectral-imaging data fusion applied as a first case to the NASA/ESA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and the Copernicus (EC) Sentinel-2 and -3 missions:

• The JWST is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and will be the most powerful telescope ever launched into space (in 2021). France is strongly engaged in the JWST, particularly in the development of the imager of the Mid-Infrared Instrument MIRI. The four institutes involved in the development of MIRI, including the IAS, have organised their unique expertise to create the MIRI centre of expertise (MICE), with support of the CNES. This centre provides the French community with access to the expertise on the imager and its data reduction pipelines. However the combination of MIRI imaging and spectroscopy data will be crucial for the scientific exploitation of the JWST, but there is currently no spectroscopic support at MICE nor are there tools that allow combining imaging and spectroscopy.

• The Copernicus program is the EC’s ambitious long-term program for Earth Observation and Monitoring. It aims to provide accurate and easily accessible data to improve the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security. To this end a series of satellites, the Sentinels, are developed that carry a broad range of instruments to monitor land, ocean and atmosphere. ACRI-ST is involved in the processing, validation and dissemination of the products of Sentinel 2 and Sentinel 3 satellite constellations, launched between 2015 and 2018. Spectro-imagers on board are optimized to either provide high spatial or high spectral resolution. Data fusion for Earth observations has a huge potential but faces similar challenges as in astronomy

The LAB4S2 will enable ACRI-ST to i) develop key sought-after methodologies in hyperspectral imaging of the Earth observations, which is currently in full expansion, to be marketed to space agencies, environmental agencies, and other institutional/commercial stakeholders in context of current and future missions, ii) develop new markets in the astrophysics and planetary science domain, and iii) offer novel deep learning cloud services, which are in growing demand, to national and international stake holders.

The LAB4S2 will provide the French science community with much demanded MIRI imaging and spectroscopy data fusion techniques and tools, crucial for the scientific exploitation of the JWST. The LabCom will bring inter-disciplinary research enriching the scientific and instrument development activities of IAS.

The 2020-2024 period is ideal for the creation of this LabCom. By the time the first JWST data are received the LAB4S2 will provide much-coveted validated tools that will be critical for obtaining observing time and efficient scientific production by the French community. In parallel, the LAB4S2 is timely to take advantage now of data routinely provided by the Sentinel-2 and 3 missions and for preparing advanced exploitation of upcoming missions. This will set the stage for a sustainable common laboratory during the whole JWST operational phase and the Copernicus program that will continue over the next decade, with a long-term vision to work at this interface of imaging and spectroscopy for future space- and ground-based facilities for Space Sciences and Remote Sensing.