2007/09/26 by Dennis C. Reuter, S. A. Stern, S. Alan Stern +26 · 162 citations
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astrobiology #Astronomy #Computer science #Geology #Hyperspectral imaging #Imaging science #Imaging spectroscopy #Infrared #Infrared astronomy #Multispectral image #New horizons #Optics #Panchromatic film #Physics #Planetary Science and Exploration #Planetary science #Pluto #Remote sensing #Spacecraft #Spacecraft Design and Technology #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s11214-008-9375-7
published in Space Science Reviews 140(1-4), 129-154 (Springer Science+Business Media) · 18 pages, 15 figures, 4 tables; To appear in a special volume of Space Science Reviews on the New Horizons mission
arxiv created 2007/09/26 · openalex publication_date 2008/06/03 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The New Horizons instrument named Ralph is a visible/near infrared multi-spectral imager and a short wavelength infrared spectral imager. It is one of the core instruments on New Horizons, NASA's first mission to the Pluto/Charon system and the Kuiper Belt. Ralph combines panchromatic and color imaging capabilities with IR imaging spectroscopy. Its primary purpose is to map the surface geology and composition of these objects, but it will also be used for atmospheric studies and to map the surface temperature. It is a compact, low-mass (10.5 kg), power efficient (7.1 W peak), and robust instrument with good sensitivity and excellent imaging characteristics. Other than a door opened once in flight, it has no moving parts. These characteristics and its high degree of redundancy make Ralph ideally suited to this long-duration flyby reconnaissance mission.