MODIS on-orbit characterization using the Moon

Abstract

The MODIS Protoflight Model (PFM) on-board the Terra spacecraft has been in operation for more than two and half years since its launch on December 18, 1999. In addition to the on-board calibrators (OBCs), the observations of the moon have been planned monthly with carefully chosen viewing conditions. The data from these observations is used to support the instrument's on-orbit calibration and characterization. In this paper, we describe the use of lunar observations for monitoring the MODIS reflective solar bands (RSB) radiometric stability and discuss related applications. For Terra MODIS, the lunar views have also been used to derive correction parameters for the optical leak among the photoconductive (PC) detectors (bands 31-36), to characterize the electronic crosstalk under different focal plane operational configurations, and to track on-orbit band-to-band registration (BBR). The same strategies are being applied to the Aqua MODIS (Flight Model 1 - FM1) launched on May 4, 2002. The lunar observation results from both instruments are compared.