I am working on three space missions, all of which involve remote sensing
in the infrared (1-160 micrometers).  The purpose is to derive information on
the compositions of the surfaces and atmospheres of (mostly) Solar System
bodies, and to derive thermal properties of the surfaces of solid bodies.
The Cassini mission to the Saturn system is currrently
returning hyperspectral image cubes with 350 spectral channels 0.4-5.1 um)
and up to 64 x 64 spatial pixels.  The targets include Saturn, its rings,
and the satellites.  The Spitzer Space Telecope is returning spectra (5-40um)
of Solar System bodies, as well as a vast array of astrophysical objects
and phenomena.  The New Horizons mission to Pluto, Charon, and the Kuiper
Belt will be launched in less than one year, and after an initial fly-by of
Jupiter (14 months after launch), will cruise to Pluto for a fly-by in
2016.  My involvement is focused on spatially resolved spectroscopy of Pluto
and its satellite Charon for the derivation of information on their surface
compositions.  Observations in similar spectral regions from Earth-based
telescopes continues to give crucial information on the compositions of
the surfaces and atmospheres of Solar System bodies, but normally with
little or no spatial resolution on their surfaces.