ASPIRE

ASPIRE (for Airborne Stabilized Platform for Infrared Experiments) is an instrument developed by the SAO to assist in solar observation, redirecting sunlight into an instrument such as a spectrograph while stabilizing the redirected light from vibration of the aircraft. It was tested in 2021 and since used for research, stabilizing the Fourier transform spectrometer ACES (for Airborne Coronal Emission Surveyor) observation of the April 2024 solar eclipse. ACES is a follow-on to the earlier spectrograph, Air-SPEC.

The acronym ASPIRE was (earlier?) coined for Airborne Spectro-Polarization Infrared Experiment, a spectropolarimeter later renamed CORSAIR (for Coronal Spectropolarimeter for Airborne Infrared Research). It is now intended as a pilot for a space-based instrument with current plans including future balloon-based flights.

Note that the acronyms ASPIRE and CORSAIR are also used for other astronomy-related initiatives.