Thermosphere-Ionsphere-Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) Solar EUV Experiment

Abstract

The Solar EUV Experiment (SEE) selected for the NASA thermosphere, ionosphere, and mesosphere energetics and dynamics (TIMED) mission will measure the solar vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectral irradiance from 0.1 to 200 nm. To cover this wide spectral range two different types of instruments are used: a grating spectrograph for spectra above 25 nm and an avalanche photodiode for spectra below 25 nm. As part of the in-flight calibration plan, silicon XUV photodiodes with thin film filters are used as stable broadband photometers between 0.1 and 40 nm. In addition, redundant spectrograph and avalanche photodiode capabilities provide calibration checks on the time scale of a month, and annual rocket underflight measurements provide absolute calibration checks traceable to NIST photometric standards. All three types of instruments have been developed and flight proven as part of a NASA solar EUV irradiance rocket experiment.