Session
Technical Session XII: Science/Mission Payloads II
Abstract
The Radiometer Assessment using Vertically Aligned Nanotubes (RAVAN) mission is a 3U CubeSat pathfinder for a constellation to measure the Earth’s radiation imbalance (ERI), which is the single most important quantity for predicting the course of climate change over the next century. RAVAN will demonstrate a small, accurate radiometer that measures top-of-the-atmosphere Earth-leaving fluxes of total and solar-reflected radiation. RAVAN demonstrates two key enabling technologies. The first is the use of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) as a radiometer absorber. VACNT forests are some of the blackest materials known and have an extremely flat spectral response over a wide wavelength range. The second key technology is a gallium fixed-point black body calibration source, which serves as a stable and repeatable reference to track the long-term degradation of the sensor. Absolute calibration is maintained by regular solar and deep space views. The RAVAN payload will fly on a 3U CubeSat that combines stellar attitude determination, sub-degree pointing, and both UHF and Globalstar communication. RAVAN will help enable the development of an Earth radiation budget constellation mission that can provide the measurements needed for superior predictions of future climate change.
The Radiometer Assessment using Vertically Aligned Nanotubes (RAVAN) CubeSat Mission: A Pathfinder for a New Measurement of Earth's Radiation Budget
The Radiometer Assessment using Vertically Aligned Nanotubes (RAVAN) mission is a 3U CubeSat pathfinder for a constellation to measure the Earth’s radiation imbalance (ERI), which is the single most important quantity for predicting the course of climate change over the next century. RAVAN will demonstrate a small, accurate radiometer that measures top-of-the-atmosphere Earth-leaving fluxes of total and solar-reflected radiation. RAVAN demonstrates two key enabling technologies. The first is the use of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) as a radiometer absorber. VACNT forests are some of the blackest materials known and have an extremely flat spectral response over a wide wavelength range. The second key technology is a gallium fixed-point black body calibration source, which serves as a stable and repeatable reference to track the long-term degradation of the sensor. Absolute calibration is maintained by regular solar and deep space views. The RAVAN payload will fly on a 3U CubeSat that combines stellar attitude determination, sub-degree pointing, and both UHF and Globalstar communication. RAVAN will help enable the development of an Earth radiation budget constellation mission that can provide the measurements needed for superior predictions of future climate change.
