Abstract

The FIRS-2 instrument consists of a Fourier transform spectrometer with 0.004 cm⁻¹ (un-apodized) resolution and 6.8 × 10^-3 cm² sr throughput, a feed telescope, and a ±0.02° stabilized pointing system for measurements of the stratospheric emission spectrum from a balloon platform. Measurements are currently made in the far infrared, from 70-220 cm⁻¹, and in the mid infrared, from 350-700 cm⁻¹. The instrument is flown on a gondola provided and supported by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. FIRS-2 has had 4 successful flights, taking place in fall 1987, spring 1988, spring 1989, and fall 1989. The mid infrared channel was first operated successfully during the balloon flight of May 15, 1989. The balloon flights which yielded the results presented here are from the flights of May 12-13, 1988 and May 15-16, 1989.

© 1990 Optical Society of America