Scott Rohrbach

The Thermal Infrared Sensor on the Landsat Data Continuity Mission

The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM), a joint NASA and USGS mission, is scheduled for launch in December, 2012. The LDCM instrument payload will consist of the Operational Land Imager (OLI), provided by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation (BATC) under contract to NASA and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS), provided by NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). This paper outlines the design of the TIRS instrument and gives an example of its application to monitoring water consumption by measuring evapotranspiration.

Characterization of a Hard X-ray Telescope at Synchrotron Facility SPring-8

Space-borne astronomical instruments require extensive characterization on the ground before launch. In the hard X-ray region however, it is difficult for a laboratory-based beamline using a conventional X-ray source to provide a capability sufficient for pre-flight high-precision calibration. In this paper, we describe an experiment to characterize a hard X-ray telescope at a synchrotron facility, mainly on the basis of experimental setup and examples of measured results. We have developed hard X-ray telescopes consisting of Wolter-I grazing incidence optics and platinum-carbon multilayer supermirror coatings. The telescopes have been characterized at the synchrotron facility SPring-8 beamline BL20B2. The measurements at BL20B2 have great advantages such as extremely high flux, large-sized and less-divergent beam, and monochromatic beam covering the entire hard X-ray region from 8 to over 100 keV. The telescope was illuminated by monochromatic hard X-rays, and the focused image was measured by high resolution hard X-ray imagers. The entire telescope aperture was mapped by a small beam, and the effective area and the point spread function were obtained as well as local optical properties for further diagnostics of the characteristics of the telescope.

Toward an operational stray light correction for the Landsat 8 Thermal Infrared Sensor

The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) onboard Landsat 8 was tasked with continuing thermal band measurements of Earth as part of the Landsat program. From first light in early 2013, there were obvious indications, such as nonuniform banding and varying absolute calibration errors, that stray light was contaminating the thermal image data collected from the instrument. Stray light in this case refers to unwanted radiance from outside the field-of-view entering the optical system and being recorded by the focal plane. Standard calibration techniques used to flat-field and radiometrically correct the data were not sufficient to adjust the image products to within the accuracy that the Landsat community has come to expect. The development of an operational technique to remove the effects of the stray light in the TIRS data has become a high priority. A methodology is presented that makes use of a stray light optical model developed for the instrument along with knowledge of the out-of-field area surrounding the TIRS earth scene. Two versions of the algorithm are proposed in which one method utilizes near-coincident image data from an external sensor while another novel method is proposed that makes use of TIRS image data itself without the need for external data. Preliminary results of the algorithm indicate that banding artifacts due to stray light are significantly reduced when the methods are applied. Additionally, initial absolute calibration error estimates of over 9K are reduced to within 2K when applying the correction methods. Although both variations of the proposed algorithm have significantly reduced the stray light effects, the fact that the latter method utilizing TIRS image data itself does not rely on any external data is a significant advantage toward the development of an operational stray light correction solution. Ongoing work is focused on operationalizing the algorithm and identifying and quantifying potential sources of error when applying the method.

A mounting and alignment approach for Constellation-X mirror segments

The four Constellation-X Spectroscopy X-ray Telescopes require four sets of 2,600 thin mirror segments be supported with minimum deformation and aligned with arc-second level accuracy. We have developed a support and alignment system that minimizes segment deformation and allows the mirror segments to be made confocal. This system relies upon a set of five mirror support points at each of the forward and aft ends of each segment. The support points are radially adjustable so as to be able to modify the segment cone angles, thereby correcting any focal length errors. Additional adjustments enable correction of segment centration and tilts to correct co-alignment errors and minimize comatic aberration. The support and alignment system is described and results are presented. Included are data demonstrating minimal levels of figure distortion. Results are compared with error budget allocations.

Grazing incidence wavefront sensing and verification of x-ray optics performance

Evaluation of interferometric mirror metrology data and characterization of a telescope wavefront can be powerful tools in understanding image characteristics of an x-ray optical system. In the development of soft x-ray telescope for the International X-Ray Observatory (IXO), we have developed new approaches to support the telescope development process. Interferometrically measuring the optical components over all relevant spatial frequencies can be used to evaluate and predict the performance of an x-ray telescope. Typically, the mirrors are measured using a mount that minimizes the mount and gravity induced errors. In the assembly and mounting process the shape of the mirror segments can dramatically change. We have developed wavefront sensing techniques suitable for the x-ray optical components to aid us in the characterization and evaluation of these changes. Hartmann sensing of a telescope and its components is a simple method that can be used to evaluate low order mirror surface errors and alignment errors. Phase retrieval techniques can also be used to assess and estimate the low order axial errors of the primary and secondary mirror segments. In this paper we describe the mathematical foundation of our Hartmann and phase retrieval sensing techniques. We show how these techniques can be used in the evaluation and performance prediction process of x-ray telescopes.

Wavefront sensing of x-ray telescopes

Phase Retrieval analysis of off-axis or defocused focal-plane data from telescope optics has been proven effective in understanding misalignments and optical aberrations in normal incidence telescopes. The approach is used, e.g., in commissioning of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) segmented primary mirror. There is a similar need for evaluating low-order figure errors of grazing incidence mirrors and nested telescope assemblies. When implemented in these systems, phase retrieval does not depend on normal incidence access to each mirror (shell) surface and, therefore, provides an effective means for evaluating nested x-ray telescopes during integration and test. We have applied a well-known phase retrieval algorithm to grazing incidence telescopes. The algorithm uses the Levenberg-Marquardt optimization procedure to perform a non-linear least-squares fit of the telescope Point Spread Function (PSF). The algorithm can also retrieve low order figure errors at visible wavelengths where optical diffraction is the dominant defect in the PSF. In this paper we will present the analytical approach and its implementation for grazing incidence mirrors of the International X-Ray Observatory (IXO). We analyze the effects of low order axial surface errors individually, and in combination on the system PSF at 633 nanometers. We demonstrate via modeling that the wavefront sensing algorithm can recover axial errors (of the grazing incidence mirrors) to a small fraction of the known axial figure errors using simulated PSFs as input data to the algorithm.

Spectral Analysis of the Primary Flight Focal Plane Arrays for the Thermal Infrared Sensor

The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on board the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) is a two-channel, push-broom imager that will continue Landsat thermal band measurements of the Earth. The core of the instrument consists of three Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) arrays whose data are combined to effectively produce a linear array of 1850 pixels for each band with a spatial resolution of approximately 100 meters and a swath width of 185 kilometers. In this push-broom configuration, each pixel may have a slightly different band shape. An on-board blackbody calibrator is used to correct each pixel. However, depending on the scene being observed, striping and other artifacts may still be present in the final data product. The science-focused mission of LDCM requires that these residual effects be understood. The analysis presented here assisted in the selection of the three flight QWIP arrays. Each pixel was scrutinized in terms of its compliance with TIRS spectral requirements. This investigation utilized laboratory spectral measurements of the arrays and filters along with radiometric modeling of the TIRS instrument and environment. These models included standard radiometry equations along with complex physics-based models such as the MODerate spectral resolution TRANsmittance (MODTRAN) and Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Image Generation (DIRSIG) tools. The laboratory measurements and physics models were used to determine the extent of striping and other spectral artifacts that might be present in the final TIRS data product. The results demonstrate that artifacts caused by the residual pixel-to-pixel spectral non-uniformity are small enough that the data can be expected to meet the TIRS radiometric and image quality requirements.

Alignment of the James Webb Space Telescope Integrated Science Instrument Module Element

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a 6.6m diameter, segmented, deployable telescope for cryogenic IR space astronomy. The JWST Observatory architecture includes the Optical Telescope Element (OTE) and the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) element which contains four science instruments (SI), including a guider. The SIs and guider are mounted to a composite metering structure with outer envelope approximate measurements of 2.2x2.2x1.7m. These SI units are integrated to the ISIM structure and optically tested at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as an instrument suite using an Optical telescope element SIMulator (OSIM). OSIM is a high-fidelity, cryogenic JWST simulator that features a ~1.5m diameter powered mirror. The SIs are aligned to the flight structure’s coordinate system under ambient, clean room conditions using opto-mechanical metrology and customized interfaces. OSIM is aligned to the ISIM mechanical coordinate system at the cryogenic operating temperature via internal mechanisms and feedback from alignment sensors and metrology in six degrees of freedom. SI performance, including focus, pupil shear, pupil roll, boresight, wavefront error, and image quality, is evaluated at the operating temperature using OSIM. This work reports on the as-run ambient assembly and ambient alignment steps for the flight ISIM, including SI interface fixtures and customization and kinematic mount adjustment. The ISIM alignment plan consists of multiple steps to meet the “absolute” alignment requirements of the SIs and OSIM to the flight coordinate system. In this paper, we focus on key aspects of absolute, optical-mechanical alignment. We discuss various metrology and alignment techniques. In addition, we summarize our approach for dealing with and the results of ground-test factors, such as gravity.

Ray-tracing for coordinate knowledge in the JWST Integrated Science Instrument Module

Optical alignment and testing of the Integrated Science Instrument Module of the James Webb Space Telescope is underway. We describe the Optical Telescope Element Simulator used to feed the science instruments with point images of precisely known location and chief ray pointing, at appropriate wavelengths and flux levels, in vacuum and at operating temperature. The simulators capabilities include a number of devices for in situ monitoring of source flux, wavefront error, pupil illumination, image position and chief ray angle. Taken together, these functions become a fascinating example of how the first order properties and constructs of an optical design (coordinate systems, image surface and pupil location) acquire measurable meaning in a real system. We illustrate these functions with experimental data, and describe the ray tracing system used to provide both pointing control during operation and analysis support subsequently. Prescription management takes the form of optimization and fitting. Our core tools employ a matrix/vector ray tracing model which proves broadly useful in optical engineering problems. We spell out its mathematical basis, and illustrate its use in ray tracing plane mirror systems relevant to optical metrology such as a pentaprism and corner cube.

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

The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) has completed over one year in Earth orbit following its launch onboard Landsat 8 in February 2013. During that time, TIRS has undergone initial on-orbit checkout and commissioning and has transitioned to an operational Landsat payload obtaining 500+ Earth scenes a day. The instrument was radiometrically calibrated during pre-flight characterization testing. A relative adjustment was made to the calibration during the on-orbit checkout of the instrument based on data from the onboard calibration sources to account for instrument changes that occurred through launch. The accuracy of the relative and absolute radiometric calibration depends in part on the stability of the instrument response over time. To monitor stability, TIRS routinely views its onboard calibration sources, which include a variable temperature blackbody and a port that allows the instrument to view deep space. The onboard calibration is validated by in situ measurements of large water bodies by instrumented buoys. In addition, the spacecraft is periodically slewed to image the moon across the field of view of TIRS. The moon provides a high contrast source which allows for studies of stray light and ghosting to be performed. These on-orbit methods provide the means to characterize the TIRS instrument performance post-launch. Analyses of these datasets over the first year on orbit indicate that while, internally, the instrument itself is far exceeding the noise and stability requirements, both bands were mis-calibrated by at least 2K (@300K) and had higher than expected variability in the in situ validation data. This is likely due to stray light which is also causing banding in Earth scenes. An initial bias correction was made on February 2014 and various approaches are being explored to correct the ghosting issues associated with the stray light.