Dr. Robert Voors Profile

Dr. Robert Voors

Technical Specialist at Airbus Defence and Space

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Author

Publications (20)

Proceedings Article | 21 November 2017 Open Access

In-flight calibration of the ozone monitoring instrument

Ruud Dirksen, Marcel Dobber, Robert Voors, Quintus Kleipool, Gijsbertus van den Oord, Pieternel Levelt

Proceedings Volume 10567, 1056724 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2308149

KEYWORDS: Diffusers, Calibration, Absorption, Ozone, Aluminum, Sensors, Clouds, Quartz, Feature extraction, Diffraction

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Proceedings Article | 21 November 2017 Open Access

EOS-AURA ozone monitoring instrument: scientific results of nearly two years successful operation and in-flight calibration and performance

M. Dobber, R. Dirksen, P. Levelt, B. van den Oord, R. Voors, Q. Kleipool

Proceedings Volume 10567, 105671X (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2308148

KEYWORDS: Charge-coupled devices, Calibration, Ozone, Sensors, CCD image sensors, Sun, Spectral calibration, Clouds, Earth's atmosphere, Signal detection

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Proceedings Article | 20 November 2017 Open Access

SPEX: the Spectropolarimeter for Planetary Exploration

J. H. Rietjens, F. Snik, D. Stam, J. Smit, G. van Harten, C. Keller, A. Verlaan, E. Laan, R. ter Horst, R. Navarro, K. Wielinga, S. Moon, R. Voors

Proceedings Volume 10565, 105651C (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2309231

KEYWORDS: Polarization, Atmospheric particles, Modulation, Jupiter, Wave plates, Polarimetry, Earth's atmosphere, Space operations, Clouds, Phase shift keying

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Proceedings Article | 20 November 2017 Open Access

TROPOMI, the Sentinel 5 precursor instrument for air quality and climate observations: status of the current design

Robert Voors, Johan de Vries, Ianjit Bhatti, Dan Lobb, Trevor Wood, Nick van der Valk, Ilse Aben, Pepijn Veefkind

Proceedings Volume 10564, 105641Q (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2309017

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TROPOMI, the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument, is a passive UV-VIS-NIR-SWIR trace gas spectrograph in the line of SCIAMACHY (2002) and OMI (2004), instruments with the Netherlands in a leading role. Both instruments are very successful and remained operational long after their nominal life time.

TROPOMI is the next step, scheduled for launch in 2015. It combines the broad wavelength range from SCIAMACHY from UV to SWIR and the broad viewing angle push-broom concept from OMI, which makes daily global coverage in combination with good spatial resolution possible. Using spectral bands from 270-500nm (UV-VIS) 675-775nm (NIR) and 2305-2385nm (SWIR) at moderate resolution (0.25 to 0.6nm) TROPOMI will measure O3, NO2, SO2, BrO, HCHO and H2O tropospheric columns from the UV-VIS-NIR wavelength range and CO and CH4 tropospheric columns from the SWIR wavelength range. Cloud information will be derived primarily from the O2A band in the NIR. This will help, together with the aerosol information, in constraining the light path of backscattered solar radiation. Methane (CH4), CO2 and Carbon monoxide (CO) are the key gases of the global carbon cycle. Of these, Methane is by far the least understood in terms of its sources and is most difficult to predict its future trend. Global space observations are needed to inform atmospheric models. The SWIR channel of TROPOMI is designed to achieve the spectral, spatial and SNR resolution required for this task.

TROPOMI will yield an improved accuracy of the tropospheric products compared to the instruments currently in orbit. TROPOMI will take a major step forward in spatial resolution and sensitivity. The nominal observations are at 7 x 7 km2 at nadir and the signal-to-noises are sufficient for trace gas retrieval even at very low albedos (down to 2%). This spatial resolution allows observation of air quality at sub-city level and the high signal-to-noises means that the instrument can perform useful measurements in the darkest conditions.

TROPOMI is currently in its detailed design phase. This paper gives an overview of the challenges and current performances. From unit level engineering models first results are becoming available. Early results are promising and this paper discusses some of these early H/W results.

TROPOMI is the single payload on the Sentinel-5 precursor mission which is a joint initiative of the European Community (EC) and of the European Space Agency (ESA). The 2015 launch intends to bridge the data stream from OMI / SCIAMACHY and the upcoming Sentinel 5 mission. The instrument is funded jointly by the Netherlands Space Office and by ESA. Dutch Space is the instrument prime contractor. SSTL in the UK is developing the SWIR module with a significant contribution from SRON. Dutch Space and TNO are working as an integrated team for the UVN module. KNMI and SRON are responsible for ensuring the scientific capabilities of the instrument.

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Proceedings Article | 17 November 2017 Open Access

The Tropomi instrument: last steps towards final integration and testing

J. Doornink, J. de Vries, R. Voors, J. Dingjan, B. Ording, N. van der Valk, R. Vink, R. Hoogeveen, J. Grant, T. Canas, Q. Kleipool, P. Veefkind

Proceedings Volume 10563, 1056342 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2304148

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Short wave infrared radiation, Spectroscopy, Space telescopes, Telescopes, Astronomical imaging, Calibration, Electronics, Near infrared, Space operations

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Proceedings Article | 25 September 2017 Open Access

Results of the Tropomi calibration campaign

B. Ording, A. Ludewig, R. Hoogeveen, D. ten Bloemendal, J. Dingjan, R. Voors, J. de Vries

Proceedings Volume 10562, 105623B (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2296118

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Sensors, Short wave infrared radiation, Lamps, Diffusers, Free electron lasers, Near infrared, Sun, Ultraviolet radiation, Astronomical imaging

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Proceedings Article | 12 August 2016 Paper

TROPOMI on ESA’s Sentinel 5p ready for launch and use

Johan de Vries, Robert Voors, Barend Ording, Jos Dingjan, Pepijn Veefkind, Antje Ludewig, Quintus Kleipool, Ruud Hoogeveen, Ilse Aben

Proceedings Volume 9688, 96880B (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2240839

KEYWORDS: Environmental sensing, Calibration, Short wave infrared radiation, Neodymium, Sensors, Ions, Sun, Spectroscopy, Satellites, Carbon monoxide

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Proceedings Article | 24 October 2013 Paper

Characterization results of the TROPOMI Short Wave InfraRed detector

R. W. M. Hoogeveen, R. Voors, M. Robbins, P. Tol, T. Ivanov

Proceedings Volume 8889, 888913 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2028759

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Short wave infrared radiation, Signal detection, Spectroscopy, Saturn, Electronics, Readout integrated circuits, Infrared detectors, Satellites, Calibration

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Proceedings Article | 16 October 2013 Paper

The TROPOMI instrument: first H/W results

Robert Voors, Johan de Vries, Nick van der Valk, Ianjit Bhatti, David Woods, Ilse Aben, Ruud Hoogeveen, Pepijn Veefkind, Quintus Kleipool

Proceedings Volume 8889, 88890Q (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2028848

KEYWORDS: Short wave infrared radiation, Sensors, Electronics, Telescopes, Optical benches, Spectroscopy, Space telescopes, Space operations, Calibration, Spectrographs

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Proceedings Article | 3 October 2011 Paper

PDR status for TROPOMI, the Sentinel 5 precursor instrument for air quality and climate observations

Johan de Vries, Robert Voors, Gerard Otter, Nick van der Valk, Ilse Aben, Ruud Hoogeveen, Ralph Snel, Quintus Kleipool, Pepijn Veefkind

Proceedings Volume 8176, 817609 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.898027

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Short wave infrared radiation, Satellites, Near infrared, Spectrographs, Spatial resolution, Environmental sensing, Sun, Telescopes, Climatology

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Proceedings Article | 3 October 2011 Paper

Spectropolarimeter for planetary exploration (SPEX): performance measurements with a prototype

Robert Voors, Scott Moon, Sandro Hannemann, Jeroen H. Rietjens, Gerard van Harten, Frans Snik, Martijn Smit, Daphne Stam, Christoph Keller, Erik Laan, Adrianus Verlaan, Willem Vliegenthart, Rik ter Horst, Ramón Navarro, Klaas Wielenga

Proceedings Volume 8176, 81760D (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.897706

KEYWORDS: Polarization, Prototyping, Modulation, Glasses, Sensors, Atmospheric particles, Earth's atmosphere, Electronics, Wave plates, Crystals

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Proceedings Article | 10 September 2011 Paper

Prototyping for the Spectropolarimeter for Planetary EXploration (SPEX): calibration and sky measurements

Gerard van Harten, Frans Snik, Jeroen H. Rietjens, J. Martijn Smit, Jozua de Boer, Renia Diamantopoulou, Otto Hasekamp, Daphne Stam, Christoph Keller, Erik Laan, Ad Verlaan, Willem Vliegenthart, Rik ter Horst, Ramón Navarro, Klaas Wielinga, Sandro Hannemann, Scott Moon, Robert Voors

Proceedings Volume 8160, 81600Z (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.893741

KEYWORDS: Polarization, Aerosols, Prototyping, Modulation, Atmospheric particles, Polarimetry, Calibration, Wave plates, Scattering, Climatology

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We present the Spectropolarimeter for Planetary EXploration (SPEX), a high-accuracy linear spectropolarimeter measuring from 400 to 800 nm (with 2 nm intensity resolution), that is compact (~ 1 liter), robust and lightweight. This is achieved by employing the unconventional spectral polarization modulation technique, optimized for linear polarimetry. The polarization modulator consists of an achromatic quarter-wave retarder and a multiple-order retarder, followed by a polarizing beamsplitter, such that the incoming polarization state is encoded as a sinusoidal modulation in the intensity spectrum, where the amplitude scales with the degree of linear polarization, and the phase is determined by the angle of linear polarization. An optimized combination of birefringent crystals creates an athermal multiple-order retarder, with a uniform retardance across the field of view. Based on these specifications, SPEX is an ideal, passive remote sensing instrument for characterizing planetary atmospheres from an orbiting, air-borne or ground-based platform. By measuring the intensity and polarization spectra of sunlight that is scattered in the planetary atmosphere as a function of the single scattering angle, aerosol microphysical properties (size, shape, composition), vertical distribution and optical thickness can be derived. Such information is essential to fully understand the climate of a planet. A functional SPEX prototype has been developed and calibrated, showing excellent agreement with end-to-end performance simulations. Calibration tests show that the precision of the polarization measurements is at least 2 • 10^-4. We performed multi-angle spectropolarimetric measurements of the Earth's atmosphere from the ground in conjunction with one of AERONET's sun photometers. Several applications exist for SPEX throughout the solar system, a.o. in orbit around Mars, Jupiter and the Earth, and SPEX can also be part of a ground-based aerosol monitoring network.

Proceedings Article | 6 August 2010 Paper

SPEX: the spectropolarimeter for planetary exploration

Frans Snik, Jeroen H. H. Rietjens, Gerard van Harten, Daphne Stam, Christoph Keller, J. Martijn Smit, Erik Laan, Ad Verlaan, Rik ter Horst, Ramón Navarro, Klaas Wielinga, Scott Moon, Robert Voors

Proceedings Volume 7731, 77311B (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857941

KEYWORDS: Polarization, Atmospheric particles, Polarimetry, Aerosols, Modulation, Clouds, Atmospheric modeling, Planets, Mars, Scattering

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Proceedings Article | 23 September 2009 Paper

TROPOMI, the solar backscatter satellite instrument for air quality and climate, heads towards detailed design

Johan de Vries, Robert Voors, A'gnes Mika, Gerard Otter, Nick van der Valk, Ilse Aben, Ruud Hoogeveen, Annemieke Gloudemans, Marcel Dobber, Pepijn Veefkind, Pieternel Levelt

Proceedings Volume 7474, 747409 (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.830087

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Short wave infrared radiation, Polarization, Satellites, CMOS sensors, Charge-coupled devices, Spectrographs, Calibration, Environmental sensing, Climatology

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Proceedings Article | 9 October 2008 Paper

TROPOMI end-to-end performance studies

Robert Voors, Johan de Vries, Pepijn Veefkind, Annemieke Gloudemans, Àgnes Mika, Pieternel Levelt

Proceedings Volume 7106, 71061D (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.808186

KEYWORDS: Short wave infrared radiation, Ozone, Sensors, Data storage, Spectroscopy, Gases, Pollution, Aerospace engineering, NOx, Aerosols

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Proceedings Article | 26 October 2007 Paper

ECSIM: the simulator framework for EarthCARE

Robert Voors, David Donovan, Juan Acarreta, Michael Eisinger, Raffaella Franco, Dulce Lajas, Ricardo Moyano, Fabrizio Pirondini, Jose Ramos, Tobias Wehr

Proceedings Volume 6744, 67441Y (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.737738

KEYWORDS: LIDAR, Radar, Clouds, Atmospheric modeling, Instrument modeling, Earth's atmosphere, Data modeling, Computer simulations, Device simulation, Aerosols

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In 2013 an important ESA Core Explorer Mission, EarthCARE is scheduled to be launched. EarthCARE, (the Earth, Clouds, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) will comprise two active (a cloud-profiling radar (CPR) and an high spectral resolution atmospheric lidar (ATLID)) and two passive (a Multi-spectral imager (MSI) and a Broad-Band Radiometer (BBR)) instruments. With these, EarthCARE will enable cloud and aerosol properties retrievals consistent with a Top-of-Atmospheric (TOA) flux accuracy of 10 Wm-². This will be achieved by simultaneously probing the atmosphere vertically with the active instruments in synergy with the passive instruments. In order to facilitate and optimize algorithm development and to quantify the effect of different instrument configurations on the mission performance a simulator for EarthCARE (ECSIM) has been developed. ECSIM relies strongly upon a previous prototype developed by ESA/KNMI where a combination of forward and retrieval models (full End-to-End capabilities) have been included. In order to make this tool more useful within the scientific and engineering communities, the prototype simulator has been embedded into a completely reorganized architecture intended to improve a number of aspects: *Complex algorithms have been enclosed within logical entities: models. *Models are connected in a logical sequence with well-defined interfaces. *Users can customize almost every mode's parameter values using configuration XML files. *Model outputs are well documented and stored in easy to access NetCDF files. *Complex simulations can be built up with a few mouse clicks. *Users can run lengthy simulations automatically iterating through different parameter values. *ECSIM can intercept and classify information and error messages from the simulations. *A database is maintained with all the information generated by the system. *It is possible to add third-party algorithms or tools to convert, analyze and visualize data extracted from generated products.

Proceedings Article | 7 September 2006 Paper

EOS-Aura ozone monitoring instrument in-flight performance and calibration

Marcel Dobber, Ruud Dirksen, Pieternel Levelt, Gijsbertus van den Oord, Quintus Kleipool, Robert Voors, Glen Jaross, Matthew Kowalewski

Proceedings Volume 6296, 62960R (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.677372

KEYWORDS: Diffusers, Calibration, Charge-coupled devices, Sensors, CCD image sensors, Mirrors, Ozone, Aluminum, Signal detection, Ultraviolet radiation

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Proceedings Article | 21 October 2005 Paper

In-orbit performance of the ozone monitoring instrument

Johan de Vries, Robert Voors, Ruud Dirksen, Marcel Dobber

Proceedings Volume 5978, 59780T (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.627013

KEYWORDS: Stray light, Clouds, Calibration, Sun, Diffusers, Ozone, Charge-coupled devices, Sensors, Spectral calibration, Mirrors

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Proceedings Article | 15 October 2005 Paper

Ozone monitoring instrument in-flight performance and calibration

M. Dobber, R. Dirksen, P. Levelt, B. van den Oord, R. Voors, Q. Kleipool, G. Jaross, M. Kowalewski

Proceedings Volume 5962, 59621L (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.624212

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Diffusers, Mirrors, Ozone, Charge-coupled devices, Sensors, Spectral calibration, Aluminum, CCD image sensors, Sun

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Proceedings Article | 2 February 2004 Paper

Science validation of the OMI level 0-1b processor

Johan de Vries, Gijsbertus van den Oord, Robert Voors

Proceedings Volume 5234, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.510698

KEYWORDS: Stray light, Calibration, Detection and tracking algorithms, Charge-coupled devices, Device simulation, Sun, Data conversion, Electronics, Ozone, Sensors

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Showing 5 of 20 publications

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