Abstract
STAR-cc-OGSE (Spectroscopically Tuneable Absolute Radiometric Calibration & Characterisation Optical Ground Support Equipment) is an NPL developed facility, designed as a universal pre-flight calibration and characterisation system for satellite sensors operating in the UV-VIS-SWIR (270 nm – 2500 nm) wavelength range. The STAR-cc-OGSE has the capability to provide geometric performance testing and SI-traceable radiometric calibration to better than 0.5 % (k = 1). SI-traceability is achieved via a vacuum compatible reference detector which is installable adjacent to the sensor under test, providing continuous illumination configuration monitoring during thermal vacuum chamber operations. The STAR-cc-OGSE has recently returned to NPL from successful deployment at Airbus, Toulouse for the AIT and C&C phases of the CNES/UKSA MicroCarb sensor. The facility is ISO 5 cleanroom compliant, transportable and CE certified.
Building on the knowledge gained from the development of the STAR-cc-OGSE, NPL is now in developing two sister C&C facilities, STARWELL and CARES, for calibration of small satellites and sub-orbital field instruments such as spectroradiometers, used for validation and calibration activities.
The STARWELL (Spectrally Tuneable Absolute Radiometry at HarWELL) facility is a state-of-the-art system being developed through an NPL/RAL Space partnership to service the ‘new space’ sector to deliver quick turnaround, low-cost calibration of small satellite payload instruments. The system combines the radiometric calibration setup design from STAR-cc-OGSE with a new SI-traceable reference detector and a 1 kHz OPO monochromatic source to perform radiometric calibration at wavelengths from 300 nm to 2500 nm. STARWELL will have the capability to provide characterisation of SNR, ISRF, spectral calibration and out of band rejection, radiometric calibration (absolute, relative intra-band/inter-band), dynamic range, polarisation sensitivity, spectral straylight and response non-uniformity.
The CARES (Camera Absolute Radiometry Evaluation Suite) facility is nominally a twin of STARWELL but is based at NPL with a specialist focus on performing SI-traceable spectral radiance calibrations of photometers, radiometers and imaging spectrometers.
The STAR-cc-OGSE Family – A Collection of EO Sensor Calibration Facilities
STAR-cc-OGSE (Spectroscopically Tuneable Absolute Radiometric Calibration & Characterisation Optical Ground Support Equipment) is an NPL developed facility, designed as a universal pre-flight calibration and characterisation system for satellite sensors operating in the UV-VIS-SWIR (270 nm – 2500 nm) wavelength range. The STAR-cc-OGSE has the capability to provide geometric performance testing and SI-traceable radiometric calibration to better than 0.5 % (k = 1). SI-traceability is achieved via a vacuum compatible reference detector which is installable adjacent to the sensor under test, providing continuous illumination configuration monitoring during thermal vacuum chamber operations. The STAR-cc-OGSE has recently returned to NPL from successful deployment at Airbus, Toulouse for the AIT and C&C phases of the CNES/UKSA MicroCarb sensor. The facility is ISO 5 cleanroom compliant, transportable and CE certified.
Building on the knowledge gained from the development of the STAR-cc-OGSE, NPL is now in developing two sister C&C facilities, STARWELL and CARES, for calibration of small satellites and sub-orbital field instruments such as spectroradiometers, used for validation and calibration activities.
The STARWELL (Spectrally Tuneable Absolute Radiometry at HarWELL) facility is a state-of-the-art system being developed through an NPL/RAL Space partnership to service the ‘new space’ sector to deliver quick turnaround, low-cost calibration of small satellite payload instruments. The system combines the radiometric calibration setup design from STAR-cc-OGSE with a new SI-traceable reference detector and a 1 kHz OPO monochromatic source to perform radiometric calibration at wavelengths from 300 nm to 2500 nm. STARWELL will have the capability to provide characterisation of SNR, ISRF, spectral calibration and out of band rejection, radiometric calibration (absolute, relative intra-band/inter-band), dynamic range, polarisation sensitivity, spectral straylight and response non-uniformity.
The CARES (Camera Absolute Radiometry Evaluation Suite) facility is nominally a twin of STARWELL but is based at NPL with a specialist focus on performing SI-traceable spectral radiance calibrations of photometers, radiometers and imaging spectrometers.