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Achieving Instrument High Accuracy In-Orbit
One of the most challenging tasks in remote sensing from space is achieving required instrument calibration accuracy on-orbit. The Moon is considered to be an excellent exoatmospheric calibration source. However, the current accuracy of the Moon as an absolute reference is limited to 5 – 10%, and this level of accuracy is inadequate to meet the challenging objective of Earth Science observations. ARCSTONE is a mission concept that provides a solution to this challenge. An orbiting spectrometer flying on a small satellite in low Earth orbit will provide lunar spectral reflectance with accuracy sufficient to establish an SI-traceable absolute lunar calibration standard for past, current, and future Earth weather and climate sensors. |
 The ARCSTONE observatory is shown in low Earth orbit with the spectrometer viewing the Sun and Moon. The spacecraft rotates in order to view the Moon or the Sun.
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“The Moon is available to all Earth-orbiting spacecraft at least once per month, and can be used to tie together the sensor radiance scales
of all instruments participating in lunar calibration without requiring near-simultaneous observations.”
of all instruments participating in lunar calibration without requiring near-simultaneous observations.”
– HUGH KIEFFER & TOM STONE
