Dr. Allen W. Lunsford Profile

Dr. Allen W. Lunsford

at NASA Goddard Space Flight Ctr

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Author

Publications (12)

Proceedings Article | 20 October 2023 Presentation + Paper

Thermal band observations of the May 2022 total lunar eclipse by the Landsat thermal infrared sensors

Matthew Montanaro, Dennis Reuter, Allen Lunsford, James Briscoe

Proceedings Volume 12686, 1268602 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2682931

KEYWORDS: Landsat, Equipment, Calibration, Space operations, Observatories, Image processing, Detector arrays, Shadows, Thermography, Infrared sensors

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Proceedings Article | 15 June 2023 Presentation + Paper

Dual and multi-spectral band SLS infrared camera systems

Murzy Jhabvala, Donald Jennings, Kyle Turck, Compton Tucker, Allen Lunsford, Christine Jhabvala, Analia Cillis, Joel Mccorkel, Jason Hair, Doug Morton, Dong Wu, Markus Loose, Fred Wang, Tilak Hewagama, Mani Sundaram, Jason Bundas, K. Choi, Corey Tucker

Proceedings Volume 12514, 1251404 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2666075

KEYWORDS: Dark current, Equipment, Optical filters, Spectral response, Infrared imaging, Readout integrated circuits, Quantum efficiency

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Based on the recent success of our strained-layer superlattice (SLS)-based infrared (IR) camera that performed Earth imaging from the International Space Station (ISS) in 2019 we have built, what we consider, to be the next generation multi-band SLS imaging system. The Compact Thermal Imager (CTI) was installed on the Robotic Refueling Mission 3 (RRM3) and attached to the exterior of the ISS. From this location we were able to capture 15 million images of a multitude of fires around the globe in 2019. This unexpected trove of data initiated quite a bit of scientific interest to further utilize this imaging capability but would include features to more precisely monitor terrestrial fires and other surface phenomena. To this end, we developed a technique to install specific bandpass filters directly onto the SLS detector hybrid assembly. Utilizing this technique we have built a CTI-2 camera system with two filters, 4 and 11μm, and have made a second detector assembly with six filter bands from 4- 12μm. This second system will also be used to supplement Landsat remote imaging monitoring approximate land surface temperatures, monitor evapotranspiration, sea ice and glacier dynamics. The CTI-2 camera is based on a 1,024x1,024 (1kx1k) format SLS detector hybridized to a FLIR ISC0404 readout integrated circuit (ROIC). The six band SLS focal plane array is based on the 640x512 FLIR ISC 9803 ROIC. This camera system is based on the Landsat 8 and 9 Thermal IR Sensors (TIRS) instrument and one of its purposes is to perform ground truthing for the Landsat 8/9 data at higher spectral resolution. Both Landsat TIRS instruments are dual band thermal IR sensors centered on 11 and 12μm (each with about a 1μm bandpass). Both of our SLS systems utilize a Ricor K548 cryocooler. To streamline costs and development time we used commercial optics and both commercial and custom NASA electronic components. A primary feature of these camera systems is the incorporation of specific filters to collect fire data at ~3.9μm and thermal data at ~11μm. The CTI- 2 instrument is designed for 37 m /pixel spatial resolution from 410km orbit (ISS orbit). In this paper, we will present the design and performance of the focal plane, optics, electronics and mechanical structure of the dual-band CTI-2 and the focal plane performance of the six-band focal plane.

Proceedings Article | 26 October 2018 Presentation + Paper

Nature of and lessons learned from Lunar Ice Cube and the first deep space cubesat 'cluster'

Pamela Clark, Robert MacDowall, William Farrell, Cliff Brambora, Al Lunsford, Terry Hurford, David Folta, Benjamin Malphrus, Matt Grubb, Sarah Wilzcewski, Emily Bujold

Proceedings Volume 10769, 107690G (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2320055

KEYWORDS: Space operations, Spectroscopy, Infrared spectroscopy, Absorption, Data archive systems, Control systems, Staring arrays, Telecommunications, Imaging systems, Solar processes

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Proceedings Article | 7 September 2018 Presentation + Paper

Landsat 9 Thermal Infrared Sensor 2 pre-launch characterization: initial imaging and spectral performance results

Aaron Pearlman, Joel McCorkel, Matthew Montanaro, Boryana Efremova, Brian Wenny, Allen Lunsford, Amy Simon, Jason Hair, Dennis Reuter

Proceedings Volume 10764, 1076406 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2321084

KEYWORDS: Stray light, Signal detection, Sensors, Earth observing sensors, Landsat, Calibration, Infrared sensors, Spectral calibration, Spatial analysis, Image resolution

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Proceedings Article | 26 September 2017 Presentation

Imaging and spectral performance of the New Horizons Ralph instrument during the 2015 Pluto encounter (Conference Presentation)

Allen Lunsford, Dennis Reuter, Donald Jennings, Catherine Olkin, S. Alan Stern, Gerald Weigle

Proceedings Volume 10401, 1040110 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2274415

KEYWORDS: Pluto, Telescopes, Imaging arrays, Spectral resolution, Data processing, Imaging systems, Visible radiation, Cameras, Fabry–Perot interferometers, Staring arrays

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Proceedings Article | 2 October 2014 Paper

Chasing the TIRS ghosts: calibrating the Landsat 8 thermal bands

John Schott, Aaron Gerace, Nina Raqueno, Emmett Ientilucci, Rolando Raqueno, Allen Lunsford

Proceedings Volume 9218, 92181A (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2063236

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Calibration, Landsat, Solids, Black bodies, Stray light, Statistical analysis, Chemical elements, Telescopes, Earth observing sensors

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The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on board Landsat 8 has exhibited a number of anomalous characteristics that have made it difficult to calibrate. These anomalies include differences in the radiometric appearance across the blackbody pre- and post-launch, variations in the cross calibration ratios between detectors that overlap on adjacent arrays (resulting in banding) and bias errors in the absolute calibration that can change spatially/temporally. Several updates to the TIRS calibration procedures were made in the months after launch to attempt to mitigate the impact of these anomalies on flat fielding (cosmetic removal of banding and striping) and mean level bias correction. As a result, banding and striping variations have been reduced but not eliminated and residual bias errors in band 10 should be less than 2 degrees for most targets but can be significantly more in some cases and are often larger in band 11. These corrections have all been essentially ad hoc without understanding or properly accounting for the source of the anomalies, which were, at the time unknown. This paper addresses the procedures that have been undertaken to; better characterize the nature of these anomalies, attempt to identify the source(s) of the anomalies, quantify the phenomenon responsible for them, and develop correction procedures to more effectively remove the impacts on the radiometric products. Our current understanding points to all of the anomalies being the result of internal reflections of energy from outside the target detector’s field-of-view, and often outside the telescope field-of-view, onto the target detector. This paper discusses how various members of the Landsat calibration team discovered the clues that led to how; these “ghosts” were identified, they are now being characterized, and their impact can hopefully eventually be corrected. This includes use of lunar scans to generate initial maps of influence regions, use of long path overlap ratios to explore sources of change and use of variations in bias calculated from truth sites to quantify influences from the surround on absolute bias errors.

Proceedings Article | 2 October 2014 Paper

Performance of the Thermal Infrared Sensor on-board Landsat 8 over the first year on-orbit

Matthew Montanaro, Julia Barsi, Allen Lunsford, Scott Rohrbach, Brian Markham

Proceedings Volume 9218, 921817 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2063457

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Stray light, Sensors, Signal detection, Data modeling, Landsat, Staring arrays, Infrared sensors, Temperature metrology, Earth observing sensors

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Proceedings Article | 23 September 2013 Paper

Preliminary on-orbit performance of the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on board Landsat 8

Matthew Montanaro, Zelalem Tesfaye, Allen Lunsford, Brian Wenny, Dennis Reuter, Brian Markham, Ramsey Smith, Kurtis Thome

Proceedings Volume 8866, 88661D (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2025650

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Calibration, Signal detection, Landsat, Temperature metrology, Quantum well infrared photodetectors, Infrared sensors, Black bodies, Space telescopes, Earth observing sensors

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Proceedings Article | 15 October 2012 Paper

Instrumentation and first results of the reflected solar demonstration system for the Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory

J. McCorkel, K. Thome, J. Hair, B. McAndrew, D. Jennings, D. Rabin, A. Daw, A. Lunsford

Proceedings Volume 8510, 85100B (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.930950

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Calibration, Radiometry, Remote sensing, Reflectivity, Climatology, Spectroscopy, Silicon, Environmental sensing, Climate change

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Proceedings Article | 20 May 2011 Paper

Calibration plan for the Thermal Infrared Sensor on the Landsat Data Continuity Mission

K. Thome, A. Lunsford, M. Montanaro, D. Reuter, R. Smith, Z. Tesfaye, B. Wenny

Proceedings Volume 8048, 804813 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.886473

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Sensors, Black bodies, Landsat, Staring arrays, Mirrors, Stray light, Electronics, Monochromators, Earth observing sensors

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Proceedings Article | 20 May 2011 Paper

The Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM)

Dennis Reuter, James Irons, Allen Lunsford, Matthew Montanaro, Fernando Pellerano, Cathleen Richardson, Ramsey Smith, Zelalem Tesfaye, Kurtis Thome

Proceedings Volume 8048, 804812 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.885963

KEYWORDS: Landsat, Sensors, Calibration, Space operations, Infrared sensors, Imaging systems, Spatial resolution, Staring arrays, Observatories, Earth observing sensors

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Proceedings Article | 20 May 2011 Paper

Spectral analysis of the primary flight focal plane arrays for the thermal infrared sensor

Matthew Montanaro, Dennis Reuter, Brian Markham, Kurtis Thome, Allen Lunsford, Murzy Jhabvala, Scott Rohrbach, Aaron Gerace

Proceedings Volume 8048, 804816 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.889265

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Black bodies, Quantum well infrared photodetectors, Calibration, Landsat, Infrared sensors, Optical filters, Digital imaging, Atmospheric sensing, Earth observing sensors

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Showing 5 of 12 publications

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