Paper 14111-5
Paper 14111-5
NIRA 3D: a 3D NIR microscope with Raman Analysis for astrogeological exploration
13 April 2026 • 09:40 - 10:00 CEST | Madrid 2/Salon 4 (Niveau/Level 0)
Abstract
Rover-borne laser spectroscopy has traditionally been supported by contextual 2D imaging. We present a low-cost, miniaturized projector designed for the space environment, which is capable of active phase shifting fringe-projection. It consists entirely of individual off-the-shelf optics housed in simple mechanics. Whilst scalable to different applications, it is integrated here inline in a combined NIR microscope / Raman spectroscope to allow construction of highly resolved 3D spatial and chemical maps of astrogeological objects. Requirements, architecture and trade-offs are discussed before calibration and 3D performance results are shown, before 3D measurements from a geological sample are presented.
Presenter
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (Germany)
Conor Ryan is an engineer at the German Aerospace Center. Beginning his career in mechanical engineering, he has degrees from Monash University in Australia and RWTH Aachen University in Germany. His experience ranges from automation in biomedical and opthalmalogical production, over design of space autofocussing mechanisms to low-coherence holography techniques and he has built a Raman spectrometer which will fly to Phobos next year. He is currently ending his engineering PhD in optical morphology measurement for rover-based spectrometers and more than anything is a proud father.