Radiometric Standards in Space: The Next Step

Published

November 1, 2000

Author(s)

D. B. Pollock, Thomas L. Murdock, Raju V. Datla, Ambler Thompson

Abstract

The lack of accurate calibration sources is preventing the current sensor technology from achieving the minimum possible uncertainty levels in remote-sensing radiometric measurements. This has been established in a recent study undertaken at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) following the identification of the problem at the Calibration Source Requirements Workshop at NIST in 1997. This paper presents the concept of establishing high-accuracy calibration sources in space, utilizing the International Space Station (ISS) as a platform. For example, a retrievable total solar irradiance radiometer standard could be deployed on the ISS in order to establish the Sun as a calibration source of the required accuracy. Periodic measurements of solar irradiance with this radiometer standard would help establish the Sun as a radiometric standard with the accuracy needed for various radiometric sensors on other platforms in space. As the radiometer on the ISS would be retrievable, its traceability to the international system of units (SI) could be maintained by periodically bringing it down and calibrating it with SI-traceable standards maintained in ground laboratories. Other suitable radiometric standards on ISS could also establish the Moon, the stars and various ground sites as calibration sources.

Citation

Metrologia

Volume

37

Issue

No. 5

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

combined standard uncertainty, international space station, radiometry, remote sensing

Citation

Pollock, D. , Murdock, T. , Datla, R. and Thompson, A. (2000), Radiometric Standards in Space: The Next Step, Metrologia (Accessed October 21, 2025)