FLY-SPEC prototype: UV-VIS-NIR reflectometry and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

Development of efficient, non-destructive, time-saving and innovative instruments for material identification surveying is urgently requested in several fields, including solid-state physics, industrial processing, waste recycling and environmental contamination detection. In this respect, coupling laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and (near-infrared unit) NIR reflectometry with hyperspectral imaging spectroscopy (HIS), owing to its power and versatility, is key to more efficient and time-saving diagnostic of chemical and physical properties of rocks and unconsolidated materials. Here we present the FLY-SPEC instrument conceived to combine these three relevant techniques for space exploration surveying. The recent assemblage of its LIBS unit has allowed us to conduct our first pilot experiments.