NASA turns to the Moon to sharpen satellite vision

NASA has begun active operations of a pioneering satellite instrument designed to improve the accuracy of data from Earth-observing spacecraft.

Commissioning of the Arcstone spectrometer and its satellite bus was completed earlier this month, following launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on July 23 aboard a SpaceX Transporter-14 rideshare mission.

On Wednesday, Arcstone began gathering validated lunar and solar spectral measurements. It is the first space-based instrument dedicated to refining lunar reflectance data, which can be used to calibrate sensors on other spacecraft. By measuring sunlight reflected from the Moon, Arcstone aims to create a universal calibration standard that could be applied across the global scientific and commercial space community.

NASA scientists say the approach could reduce the need for complex on-board calibration systems while enhancing the reliability and accuracy of data from Earth-viewing satellites. “The Moon can be the preferred reference to fine-tune satellite instruments,” said Constantine Lukashin, Arcstone’s principal investigator at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia. “Arcstone’s measurements are intended to allow faster detection of data trends, lower costs and significantly increase data quality.”

The technology demonstration is funded by NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office and led by NASA Langley in collaboration with the University of Colorado Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, the US Geological Survey, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, Resonon Inc., Blue Canyon Technologies and Quartus Engineering.

Further information on Arcstone is available at science.nasa.gov/mission/arcstone.