Karen St. Germain
The Calibration and Validation Program for the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP)
The National Polar-orbiting Operational Satellite System (NPOESS) program will launch its second risk reduction mission, the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) in 2011. NPP is collaboration between the NPOESS program (for risk reduction) and the NASA’s Earth Science program (for continuity of earth science measurements). The NPP sensors will measure 24 environmental data products, and require a comprehensive pre- and post-launch Calibration and Validation program to ensure sensor and data product performance. This paper describes a comprehensive approach to the NPOESS Calibration and Validation program, based on lessons learned over two decades of experience in both operational and science remote sensing.
Karen St. Germain, posted on
March 8th, 2010
Articles, Earth Observation, Ecosystems, Technology
NASA Daily Image
Large X-class Flare Erupts on the Sun
On Jan. 27, 2012, a large X-class flare erupted from an active region near the solar west limb. X-class flares are the most powerful of all solar events. Seen here is an image of the flare captured by the X-ray telescope on Hinode. This image shows an emission from plasma heated to greater than eight million degrees during the energy release process of the flare. Image Credit: JAXA/Hinode