Uncertainty Analysis and Budgeting for On-Orbit Radiometric Calibration Chair: Scott Hansen, Space Dynamics Laboratory: This year’s tutorial will present detailed uncertainty analysis methods in the context of uncertainty budget case studies for planned or existing on-orbit sensors. Factors that can be anticipated to impact remote sensing measurements and add to the uncertainty of those measurements will be described and discussed. The implications of this uncertainty planning analysis for generating program requirements in general will also be assessed.

Presentations

Calibration Requirements and Planning for Missile Defense Remote Sensing: Ray Russell – The Aerospace Corporation; Abstract: Dr. Ray Russell has acquired a detailed understanding of radiometric calibration during more than 25 years of work on national defense remote sensing programs such as SPIRIT III on MSX, MSTI III, DSP, DMSP, RAMOS, NFIRE, SBIRS–High, and SBIRS–Low. Dr. Russell will draw on this experience to describe calibration requirements and methods in the context of missile defense remote sensing applications. Appropriate calibration requirements and methods for any radiometric instrument are defined by the sensor design and intended science and/or operational measurements. To illustrate this process, calibration sources, test configurations, and test algorithms required to verify sensor performance will be described for various potential missile defense remote sensing mission profiles. This exercise will demonstrate methods of wide and general application to generate a radiometric calibration error tree suitable for these applications. The methods and techniques that will be described can be applied to any radiometric calibration problem.

On–Orbit Components of Radiance Uncertainty Analysis Budgets for Operational Satellite Instruments: A CALCON Exploratory: Bob Iacovazzi and Fred Wu – NOAA; Abstract: The purpose of this exploratory is to foster discussion and interaction amongst CALCON attendees to share knowledge regarding lessons learned in trying a quantify post–launch calibration uncertainties. These lessons learned include unpredicted sensor effects, data logistical nightmares, remote sensing “gotchas”, hard–to–obtain instrument documentation, etc. of general interest for calibration. During the exploratory, examples are planned to be used to illustrate problems, and to describe how problems might appear elsewhere in other sensors. If possible, “hands–on” learning opportunities are planned using data analysis examples and solutions from operational satellite instruments, etc.

Correlation of Target–dependent Calibration Methods used to Determine Absolute Radiometric Accuracy for Space–based Remote Sensing Payloads: Howard Bowen – ITT; Abstract: Analytical methods using three different target types have been used to assess absolute radiometric accuracy of the IKONOS remote sensing optical payload for the past 7 years of its operational mission. These approaches include vicarious ground calibration using earth–based targets, celestial scene calibration using radiometrically characterized stellar sources and, more recently, using the Moon as a radiometrically characterized uniform source. Here we will present the results of a study undertaken to resolve a discrepancy that has existed between the vicarious ground and stellar methods. In addition, we will present the results of the analysis using the Moon as a calibration source for the IKONOS payload with respect to both absolute radiometric accuracy and stray light analysis.