Calibration, Test, Field Operation and Refurbishment of Balloon Borne Radiometer

Abstract

A cryogenically cooled, filtered infrared radiometer built on a previous contract has been calibrated, installed on a high altitude balloon platform, flown three times and refurbished between flights. This radiometer has several unique features which include the options for the remote operation of two filter wheels each containing six filters at helium temperature, and a rotary chopper which may be run at 200 cycles per second or positioned open. It contains a 10 in. diameter Cassegrain telescope with nine field stops in its focal plane. Each of these field stops is reimaged on a separate detector for stray radiation rejection. The fields of view of the detectors are small and varied in size and shape. The telescope is mounted on a two axis alt azimuth/ artillery type/servo operated gimbal which makes sky scans under the control of an on-board programmer. The cryogenically cooled telescope is fitted with an antifrost device which protects the system at altitudes above 35,000 ft. The system is capable of absolute spectral radiometry in bands from 3 to 25 microns.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0768445

Entities

People

  • Arthur G. Debell

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Altitude
  • Altitude Chambers
  • Calibration
  • Contracts
  • Detectors
  • Electronics
  • Focal Planes
  • High Altitude
  • Measurement
  • Platforms
  • Power Supplies
  • Pressure Regulators
  • Radiation
  • Radiometry
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Software Engineering
  • Spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Space Objects