In-Space Radiometric Calibration of Nanosatellite Camera

Camera instruments are most commonly found among spacecraft payloads. Although small satellites provide new platforms for camera instruments, challenges however remain to use these camera images effectively in scientific and technological applications. This work provides a case study where images taken by the 1 Unit (10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm) Suomi 100 nanosatellite have been analyzed. Methods are introduced to overcome camera calibration difficulties caused, especially, by limited on-ground calibration and practical operational limitations. The developed methods provide continuous space-based camera calibration during the lifetime of the satellite mission, which forms the basis for the reliable usage of camera images. As an example of the developed approach, it is demonstrated how the camera calibration and image-processing methods can be used to maximize the science return of a small satellite's image of aurorae.