Description: NovaSol proposes to develop an advanced hyperspectral imaging system for earth science missions named BRASS (Broadband Advanced Spectral System). BRASS combines state-of-the-art, existing NASA detector technology and proven electronics with a novel spectrometer design to provide a compact instrument that covers the full wavelength range from 0.4 to 5 ?m. Applications for such an instrument range from vegetation characterization and environmental assessment to mineral mapping and measurements of trace gases and aerosols, fully supporting important research goals of NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD).