The Advanced Hyperspectral Imager: Aboard China's GaoFen-5 Satellite

This article introduces the design and imaging principles of the Advanced Hyperspectral Imager (AHSI) aboard China's GaoFen-5 satellite. The AHSI is a visible and nearinfrared (VNIR)/short-wave infrared (SWIR) HSI. It is the first spaceborne hyperspectral sensor that utilizes both a convex-grating spectrophotometry and an improved three-concentric-mirror (Offner) configuration. It has 330 spectral bands, a 60-km swath width, and a 30-m spatial resolution. Various tests have been designed to evaluate its imaging performance, and the results indicate that the AHSI's performance is comparable to other spaceborne HSIs launched recently and those scheduled for launch in the next few years. The AHSI has the capability to detect and identify different ground objects.