Stray Light Analysis of the SABER Telescope

Abstract

The stray light analysis of the sounding of the atmosphere using broadband emission radiometry (SABER) instrument on the thermosphere-ionosphere-mesosphere energetics and dynamics (TIMED) mission is discussed. Relevant mission objectives and operating conditions are stated to define the stray light problem. Since SABER is an earth limb viewing sensor, the telescope must be designed for large off-axis rejection. Described are the key design features which make the instrument well suited for its mission. Representative point source transmittance (PST) curves computed using the commercial stray light program APART are presented. Non-rejected radiance (NRR) values computed using APART generated PST curves and LINEPACK generated curves for the total radiance from the earth aixi the afinosphere are given. A method for computing NRR from the earth and the atmosphere using lineof- sight radiance profiles versus tangent height is described. Computed NRR values demonstrate that the effect of stray light on SABER\u27s measurement capability is negligible

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