Ball Aerospace Gets NASA Funding for CubeSat Infrared Radiometer Project

Ball Aerospace & Technologies will manufacture the Compact Infrared Radiometer in Space instrument for a CubeSat that will perform scientific research and support land use management for NASA‘s Earth science division.

The company said Wednesday it received funding under the In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies program to build the CIRiS imaging radiometer for tests during on-orbit operations.

“Validating advanced technologies on micro-spacecraft for our customers is an innovative way to introduce new architectures and complete important science goals,” said Jim Oschmann, vice president and general manager of Ball’s civil space segment.

Ball will begin CIRiS production in February ahead of the CubeSat’s launch in early 2018.

The on-orbit tests will span three months and cover calibration, radiometric performance and data processing algorithms, the company added.