Abstract
The Comet Astrobiology Exploration Sample Return (CAESAR) mission has been awarded Phase A study by NASA. The CAESAR mission is to acquire and return to earth a sample of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The camera suite on the spacecraft consists of 6 cameras. This suite consists of a narrow angle camera (NAC), medium angle camera (MAC), touch-and-go camera (TAGCAM), sample container camera (CANCAM), and two navigation cameras (NAVCAMs). Following optical and mechanical validation at the sensor vendor, the Camera Suite is delivered to Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) for calibration. Camera designs were determined from mission requirements. The formulated pre-launch calibration plan quantifies camera performance at anticipated operational environmental conditions, verifies camera requirements, is heritage-based, utilizes existing equipment to reduce cost and schedule, and enhances the science value of camera data. The development of this plan and a subsequent pre-launch calibration matrix will be discussed. In-flight calibration verifies and validates the pre-launch calibration, monitors and updates calibration, and quantifies camera performance. In-flight considerations and a preliminary calibration matrix will also be discussed.
The CAESAR New Frontiers Mission: Camera Suite Calibration Planning
The Comet Astrobiology Exploration Sample Return (CAESAR) mission has been awarded Phase A study by NASA. The CAESAR mission is to acquire and return to earth a sample of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The camera suite on the spacecraft consists of 6 cameras. This suite consists of a narrow angle camera (NAC), medium angle camera (MAC), touch-and-go camera (TAGCAM), sample container camera (CANCAM), and two navigation cameras (NAVCAMs). Following optical and mechanical validation at the sensor vendor, the Camera Suite is delivered to Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) for calibration. Camera designs were determined from mission requirements. The formulated pre-launch calibration plan quantifies camera performance at anticipated operational environmental conditions, verifies camera requirements, is heritage-based, utilizes existing equipment to reduce cost and schedule, and enhances the science value of camera data. The development of this plan and a subsequent pre-launch calibration matrix will be discussed. In-flight calibration verifies and validates the pre-launch calibration, monitors and updates calibration, and quantifies camera performance. In-flight considerations and a preliminary calibration matrix will also be discussed.