MISR PRELAUNCH INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION AND CHARACTERIZATION RESULTS

Each of the nine cameras that compose the Multiangle Imaging SpectroRa diometer (MISR) has been rigorously tested, characterized, and calibra ted. Requirements on these tests include a 3% (1 sigma) radiometric ca libration requirement, spectral response function determination of bot h the in- and out-of-band regions, and distortion mapping. The latter test determines the relative look-angle to the ground corresponding to each focal plane detector element. This is established to within one- tenth of the instantaneous field-of-view. Most of the performance test ing was done on the cameras as they completed assembly. This was done to take advantage of the serial delivery of the hardware, minimize the required size of the thermal-vacuum facilities, and allow testing to occur early in the schedule allocated for the hardware build. This pro ved to be an effective strategy, as each of the test objectives was me t, Additional testing as an integrated instrument included verificatio n of the data packetization, camera pointing, and clearances of the fi elds-of-view. Results of these studies have shown that the MISR camera s are of high quality and will meet the needs of the MISR science comm unity. Highly accurate calibration data are on-hand and available for conversion of camera output to radiances.