Space Based Optical Sensor Calibration Approaches

Fourth Generation onboard calibration sources will need to demonstrate increased quantifiable performance based on close attention to the characteristics of the variables they are intended to monitor in flight sensor systems. Closer synergism will,therefore, be required between sensor design to meet application requirements and onboard source design to meet sensor requirements.This project will seek to develop a new onboard source design to meet a significant and realistic sensor scenario, with the long-term goal of developing and testing the new design.Contemporary Third Generation sensor applications, onboard source requirements, and available source technologies will be surveyed and assessed. A particular sensor scenario (among the many possible scenarios) will be selected for which a new source canbe designed using existing or emerging technology. A preliminary flight sensor design will be developed from which onboard source requirements will be derived. Then a source concept will be identified and a preliminary proof-of-concept design developed,along with a preliminary test plan to validate design performance.Successful completion of this project will lead naturally into the fabrication and testing of the proof-of-concept onboard source. Development of Fourth Generation calibration sources and calibration methodologies has important implications for the designand implementation of Onboard Calibration Units in spaceborne optical systems. Technology developed from this effort has applications in commercial and Government remote sensing missions that perform quantitative measurements for weather, climate,agriculture, mining, and oceanographic studies. Astronomical and other scientific missions would also benefit, especially those involving background energy surveys. Military applications are obvious and include satellite systems for missile launchdetection, interpretation, tracking, and targeting.