The GOES-R SDR Calibration/Validation Plan

Developing and executing a comprehensive calibration/validation plan is part of GOES-R mission data quality assurance program to ensure user confidence. In performing GOES-R cal/val, we are ensuring that mission requirements, instrument specifications, and user needs are met. At the same time, we also have high expectations that the instruments will perform better than specifications, which will further improve and expand GOES-R applications. The ultimate goal of GOES-R cal/val is to enable the radiometers to be used as on-orbit standards or transfer standards for GEOSS. Achieving this goal will require a long-term commitment and synergistic effort in pre-launch and post-launch GOES-R cal/val.

The GOES-R Calibration/Validation Plan addresses pre-launch characterization and calibration; ground processing system and operational calibration; as well as post-launch activation and checkout, radiance verification, long-term instrument performance monitoring, and anomaly resolution. The plan is a collaborative effort amongst NOAA, NIST, NASA, and the instrument vendors. It is developed based on the experience and lessons learned from heritage programs. The methodologies proposed in the plan encompass both traditional approaches and the current state of the art in cal/val.