Next generation infrared calibration sources

 

Black body sources provide the fundamental reference for all infrared measurements from satellite radiometers. Satellite black body technology has evolved very little in the past 25 years. There is now an opportunity to introduce a range of new technologies into black body sources to address traceability and radiometric performance, and to reduce the volume, mass and power consumption of black body sub-systems. For climate class missions the ability to provide traceable radiances on orbit is essential. We outline our latest developments in these areas, including our calibration facility, and technical developments of black body technologies, and present the performance advances of these new approaches.