CrIMSS Cal/Val Planning and Prelaunch Preparation for NPP and NPOESS

The Cross-track Infrared and Microwave Sounder Suite (CrIMSS) is the combination of the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) output data at the SDR product level. These data will be used to produce the retrieval of two of the six NPOESS key EDRs: the atmospheric vertical temperature profile (AVTP) and the atmospheric vertical moisture profile (AVMP). The calibration and performance validation of these two sensors will be conducted after the launch of the NPP satellite and each of the NPOESS satellites. The Cal/Val process was initiated during the NPP pre-launch phase through extensive planning, drawing from similar heritage programs and sensor performance verification. This verification is being performed using ground test data from the CrIS Engineering Development Unit 3 (EDU3) and Flight Model 1 (FM1) as well as the ATMS proto-flight and flight models. The Cal/Val Team that is performing these tasks is integrated from NGST, the NPP and NPOESS Science Teams, the NPOESS Integrated Program Office (IPO), NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) and US Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA). This team has extensive Cal/Val experience from heritage programs such as NASA's EOS satellites (AIRS and AMSU sensors), NOAA-18 (HIRS) and the newest planned launch of the European Meteorological Operational Polar Satellite (METOP) satellite that hosts the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) sensor. This presentation contains a summary discussion of the pre-launch sensor calibration results, the status of the performance verification of CrIS and ATMS from ground test data results, and the detailed planning of the on-orbit sensor calibration and performance validation. These points have been incorporated into the NPP Program Cal/Val Task Network leading to the product validation of the CrIMSS EDRs.