DIRBE External Calibrator (DEC)
Abstract
Under NASA Contract No. NAS5-28185, the Center for Space Engineering at Utah State University has produced a calibration instrument for the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE). DIRBE is one of the instruments aboard the Cosmic Background Experiment Observatory (COBE). The calibration instrument is referred to as the DEC (Dirbe External Calibrator). DEC produces a steerable, infrared beam of controlled spectral content and intensity and with selectable point source or diffuse source characteristics, that can be directed into the DIRBE to map fields and determine response characteristics. This report discusses the design of the DEC instrument, its operation and characteristics, and provides an analysis of the systems capabilities and performance.
- Publication:
-
Final Report Utah State Univ
- Pub Date:
- August 1987
- Bibcode:
- 1987usu..rept.....W
- Keywords:
-
- Calibrating;
- Cosmic Background Explorer Satellite;
- Diffuse Radiation;
- Infrared Radiation;
- Background Radiation;
- Beams (Radiation);
- Point Sources;
- Spectrum Analysis;
- Steerable Antennas;
- Instrumentation and Photography