New fixed point of on-orbit calibration scale based on the In-Bi eutectic alloy for application in novel high-stable space-borne standard sources

Abstract

The problem of ensuring stability of Earth observation space-borne instruments undertaking long-term temperature measurements within thermal IR spectral range is described. For in-flight reliable control of the space-borne IR instruments characteristics the stability of onboard reference sources should be improved. The function of these high-stable sources will be executed by novel onboard blackbodies, incorporating the melt↔freeze phase transition phenomenon, currently being developed. As a part of these works the task of realizing an on-orbit calibration scale within the dynamic temperature range of Earth observation systems 210−350 K based on fixed-point phase transition temperatures of a number of potentially suitable substances is advanced. The corresponding series of the onboard reference blackbodies will be set up on the basis of the on-orbit calibration scale fixed points. It is shown that the achievement of the target lies in carrying out a number of in-flight experiments with the selected fixed points and the prospective onboard fixed-point blackbodies prototypes. The new In-Bi eutectic alloy melt temperature fixed point (~345 K) is proposed as the significant fixed points of the future on-orbit calibration scale. The results of the new fixed point preliminary laboratory studies have been analyzed. The results allowed to start preparation of the in-flight experiments investigating the In-Bi alloy for the purpose of its application in the novel onboard reference sources.