Instrument verification tests on the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR)

The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) cameras completed detailed calibration and characterization testing a year ago, as reported in earlier literature. Since that time the cameras have been assembled onto a common flight optical bench, along with photodiode detector standards and diffuse calibration targets. The orderly multiplexing of high-rate data streams from nine camera, twenty-four calibration photodiode channels, and engineering measurements of temperatures and voltages into packets has been verified. Camera fields-of-view clearances have been established, and a verification of camera and photodiode relative response established. These verification tests of the instrument have been followed by shipment of the instrument to the spacecraft integrator facility, where testing continues. Even for the simplest of experiments, the insight learned into the functionality of the instrument has been invaluable. This paper reviews a sampling of these tests and lessons learned, from the simplest verification experiments, to the complex camera boresight determinations.