SABER
Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry
SDL’s SABER instrument launched successfully from Vandenberg Air Force
base aboard a Delta II rocket on 7 December 2001. Under contract to NASA Langley,
SDL designed and fabricated the SABER instrument, including its telescope, baffle
assembly, focal plane assembly, and cryogenic system. SABER is a 10-channel
infrared (1.27 to 16.9 µm) radiometer and is one of four instruments on
NASA's TIMED mission.
SABER’s science objectives are to globally explore the mesosphere and
lower thermosphere and make global day/night vertical profile measurements of
atmospheric temperature, density, and pressure. SABER and its cryocooler system
have performed flawlessly and are now operational, with thermal, optical, electrical,
and pointing systems performing impeccably and no anomalies in mission operation
functionality.
On 5 October 2003 the TIMED mission was extended by
NASA from two years to five because of the excellent data and exceptional instrumentation.
The mission focuses on the least understood portion of the Earth’s atmospheric
region—the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere/Ionosphere—located
approximately 40 to 110 miles above the Earth. Data collected is being used
to predict weather and global warming.
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SABER Website