On-Orbit Performance Prediction of Black Body Based on Functional Test Results under Ambient Condition

Abstract

On-board black body is used for radiometric calibration of spaceborne infrared (IR) radiometers and imaging systems. The black body is equipped with heaters to heat up the black body during imaging for calibration, a heat pipe to transfer residual heat on the black body just after the black body heating to radiator on the spacecraft (S/C), and embedded temperature sensors to measure the black body surface temperature has been proposed and manufactured. To investigate the performance capability of the black body, functional tests were performed, such as emissivity measurement tests and black body heat-up tests under ambient conditions. The characteristic of black body under on-orbit conditions has been predicted by numerical simulation using a correlated thermal model obtained from ambient test results.