Performance assessments and comparisons of S-NPP and NOAA-20 (JPSS-1) VIIRS on-orbit calibration

Xiaoxiong Xiong; Amit Angal; James Butler; Hongda Chen; Kwofu Chiang; Ning Lei; Yonghong Li; Kevin Twedt

doi:10.1117/12.2326866

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11 October 2018 Performance assessments and comparisons of S-NPP and NOAA-20 (JPSS-1) VIIRS on-orbit calibration

Xiaoxiong Xiong, Amit Angal, James Butler, Hongda Chen, Kwofu Chiang, Ning Lei, Yonghong Li, Kevin Twedt

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Proceedings Volume 10785, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XXII; 1078514 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2326866
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2018, Berlin, Germany

Abstract

The first Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument has been in operation for more than 6 years on-board the S-NPP satellite and the second instrument, with the same design and performance requirements, was launched in November, 2017 on-board the JPSS-1 satellite (named NOAA-20 after reaching its orbit) and is currently in normal operation conditions. This paper provides a brief description of VIIRS on-orbit calibration and characterization activities and presents performance assessments and comparisons of S-NPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS using data collected from their on-board calibrators (OBC) and regularly scheduled lunar observations. Results show that NOAA-20 VIIRS is performing as well or better than S-NPP VIIRS in all of the key performance metrics. The NOAA-20 reflective solar bands, including the day-night band, have experienced less than 1% change in gain in the first 250 days since launch and did not suffer from the contamination related rapid degradation experienced by S-NPP VIIRS. Some of the NOAA- 20 thermal emissive bands had larger than expected gain degradation after launch due to ice buildup on the dewar window of the long-wave IR focal plane assembly but a mid-mission outgassing operation was able to restore their gains and maintain stable behavior. Though this study is focused on the sensor’s key performance parameters, such as detector responses (gains), signal-to-noise ratios, and noise-equivalent temperature differences, challenges identified and lessons learned through different phases of on-orbit calibration and characterization are also discussed.

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Xiaoxiong Xiong, Amit Angal, James Butler, Hongda Chen, Kwofu Chiang, Ning Lei, Yonghong Li, and Kevin Twedt "Performance assessments and comparisons of S-NPP and NOAA-20 (JPSS-1) VIIRS on-orbit calibration", Proc. SPIE 10785, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites XXII, 1078514 (11 October 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2326866

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