NPOESS/NPP VIIRS SDR calibration and validation plan

The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) is the U.S. next generation operational weather and climate monitoring system administered by the Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensors on the NPOESS and the NPOESS Prepatory Program (NPP) satellites are currently under development and manufacturing by Raytheon Corporation. Northrop Grumman Corporation is responsible for the calibration and validation of the instrument sensor data records (SDRs). The NPP Calibration and Validation Plans were completed and further refined in 2001, 2004 and 2008. We will discuss the current status of the VIIRS Cal/Val plan for the SDRs, including responsibilities, schedules and pre-launch preparations. Preliminary results and performance estimates for some proposed Cal/Val techniques will also be presented.