Engineering Commons^™

Ground And In-Flight Calibration Of The Osiris-Rex Camera Suite, D. R. Golish, C. Drouet D'Aubigny, B. Rizk, D. N. Dellagiustina, P. H. Smith, K. Becker, N. Shultz, T. Stone, M. K. Barker, E. Mazarico, E. Tatsumi, R. W. Gaskell, L. Harrison, C. Merrill, C. Fellows, B. Williams, S. O'Dougherty, Michael Whitely, Jed Hancock, B. E. Clark, C. W. Hergenrother, D. S. Lauretta

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite (OCAMS) onboard the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is used to study the shape and surface of the mission’s target, asteroid (101955) Bennu, in support of the selection of a sampling site. We present calibration methods and results for the three OCAMS cameras—MapCam, PolyCam, and SamCam—using data from pre-flight and in-flight calibration campaigns. Pre-flight calibrations established a baseline for a variety of camera properties, including bias and dark behavior, flat fields, stray light, and radiometric calibration. In-flight activities updated these calibrations where possible, allowing us to confidently measure Bennu’s surface. Accurate calibration is critical not only for establishing a …

Compact Survey And Inspection Day/Night Image Sensor Suite For Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Eyepod), Alan Bird, Scott A. Anderson, Dale Linne Von Berg, Morgan Davidson, Niel Holt, Melvin Kruer, Michael L. Wilson

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

EyePod is a compact survey and inspection day/night imaging sensor suite for small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). EyePod generates georeferenced image products in real-time from visible near infrared (VNIR) and long wave infrared (LWIR) imaging sensors and was developed under the ONR funded FEATHAR (Fusion, Exploitation, Algorithms, and Targeting for High-Altitude Reconnaissance) program. FEATHAR is being directed and executed by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in conjunction with the Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) and FEATHAR’s goal is to develop and test new tactical sensor systems specifically designed for small manned and unmanned platforms (payload weight < 50 lbs). The EyePod suite consists of two VNIR/LWIR (day/night) gimbaled sensors that, combined, provide broad area survey and focused inspection capabilities. Each EyePod sensor pairs an HD visible EO sensor with a LWIR bolometric imager providing precision geo-referenced and fully digital EO/IR NITFS output imagery. The LWIR sensor is mounted to a patent-pending jitter-reduction stage to correct for the high-frequency motion typically found on small aircraft and unmanned systems. Details will be presented on both the wide-area and inspection EyePod sensor systems, their modes of operation, and results from recent flight demonstrations.

Development Of A Low-Cost Fine Steering Mirror, Steven R. Wassom, Morgan Davidson

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The Space Dynamics Laboratory has used internal funds to develop a prototype low-cost two-axis fine steering mirror (FSM) for space-based and airborne applications. The FSM has a lightweight 75 mm-by- 150-mm high-reflectance mirror, high angular deflection capability for along-track ground motion compensation and cross-track pointing, and a 70-Hertz bandwidth for small amplitudes to help cancel unwanted jitter. It makes use of off-the-shelf components as much as possible. Key performance parameters are: Clear aperture, 75 mm; elevation angle, ±15 deg (mechanical); azimuth angle, ±60 deg (mechanical); slew rate, greater than 75 deg/sec; bandwidth, 70 Hz; steady-state average error, about 1 arcsec; …

Cooling Saber With A Miniature Pulse Tube Refrigerator, Scott M. Jensen, J. Clair Batty, William A. Roettker, Matthew J. Felt

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Utah State University/Space Dynamics Laboratory (USU/SDL), teaming with NASA Langley Research Center, is currently building the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry(SABER) instrument. Stringent mass and power constraints, together with a greater than two year mission life, led to the selection of a TRW miniature pulse tube refrigerator to cool SABER's infrared detectors to the required temperature of 75 K.

This paper provides an overview of the SABER thermal management plan and the challenges encountered in matching the refrigerator characteristics with instrument performance requirements under the broadly variant space environments expected for this mission. Innovative technologies were developed …