Calibration and Validation for Small Satellites

he satellites launched for NASA’s Earth Science Division (ESD) to address research and applications in Earth System Science historically have had extensive calibration/validation (cal/val) programs, including both pre-launch and post-launch, for the latter including both on-board and vicarious calibration. With the advent of small satellites, many of which have come from technology-focused and/or cost constrained/capped programs, while others have come from commercial satellite programs, the availability of resources, both in terms of orbital area/volume and cost to support these activities. In this talk a review of how cal/val goals were implemented and achieved in ESD’s small satellite missions will be provided, and the implications of these choices on potential data utilization will be addressed. A brief summary of related insight from the Commercial Satellite Pilot Data Buy program will also be provided.