Conceptual Design Study of NISS onboard NEXTSat-1

The NISS (Near-infrared Imaging Spectrometer for Star formation history) onboard NEXTSat-1 is being developed by KASI. The NISS will perform the imaging low-resolution spectroscopic observation in the near-infrared range for nearby galaxies, low background regions, starforming regions and so on. The off-axis reflecting telescope with a wide field of view (2 deg. ${\times}$ 2 deg.) will be operated in the wavelength range from 0.95 to $3.8{\mu}m$. In order to reduce thermal noise, a telescope and a HgCdTe infrared sensor will be cooled down to 200K and 80K, respectively. To evade a stray light outside a field of view and use limited space efficiently, the NISS adopted the off-axis reflective optical system. The primary and secondary mirrors, optomechanical part and mechanical structure were designed to use the same material. It will lessen the degradation of optical performance due to a thermal variation. The purpose of NISS is the observation of cosmic near-infrared background in the wide wavelength range as well as the detection of near-infrared spectral lines in nearby galaxies, cluster of galaxies and star forming regions. It will give us less biased information on the star formation history. In addition, we will demonstrate the space technologies related to the development of the Korea's leading near-infrared instrument for the future large infrared telescope, SPICA.