SABER ground calibration

This paper describes ground calibration of a 10-channel infrared (1.27-17 µm wavelength) radiometer instrument known as sounding of the atmosphere using broadband emission radiometry (SABER). SABER is one of four experiments that will fly on the thermosphere, ionosphere, mesosphere, energetics and dynamics (TIMED) mission to be launched in 2001. SABER will be used to measure atmospheric infrared emissions from the earthlimb. Ground calibration testing was completed in September 1999. Subsequent data analyses and report generation was completed in June 2000. This paper provides an overview of the instrument design, calibration approach, calibration equation and radiometric model. It also describes the SABER ground calibration facility, survey of calibration results and calibration radiance uncertainty.