The Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) Pathfinder Project held a Mission Concept Review (MCR) for the Pathfinder mission Aug. 24 through 26 at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
“The MCR affirmed the need for the CLARREO Pathfinder (CPF) mission, demonstrated the feasibility of the planned approach, and demonstrated that the team has developed the necessary project infrastructure and work plans to proceed to the next phase of project execution,“ said Gary Fleming, CPF project manager.
The CLARREO Pathfinder Project will launch a reflected solar spectrometer to the International Space Station (ISS) in the 2020 timeframe to demonstrate essential measurement technologies required for a future full CLARREO mission.
The instrument will measure energy from the sun being reflected from Earth with higher accuracy than current space-based sensors. These measurements will be used to calibrate the sensors of other satellites that will cross the instrument’s path while in orbit, such as Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS).
Pathfinder will reduce risk, demonstrate essential techniques and technologies, and advance science in preparation for a future full CLARREO mission. The full CLARREO mission would produce highly accurate climate projections to improve climate models and ultimately enable sound policy decisions.
For the next phase of the project, the team will focus on developing detailed system requirements and defining the accommodations on ISS.