Nimbus 4 Michelson Interferometer

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Abstract
The Michelson interferometer, IRIS-D, flown on Nimbus 4 in April 1970 is an improved version of the interferometer, IRIS-B, flown on Nimbus 3 a year earlier. Thermal emission spectra of the earth are being recorded between 400 cm−1 and 1600 cm−1 with a nominal spectral resolution of 2.8 cm−1 and a noise equivalent radiance between approximately 0.5 and 1 erg sec−1 cm−2 ster−1 cm. This paper describes the design and performance of the IRIS-D and concentrates on the design differences that exist between the interferometers flown on Nimbus 3 and 4. The performance is demonstrated by examples of spectra obtained while in earth orbit.