Characteristics of COMS MI Radiometric Calibration

Communication Ocean Meteorological Satellite (COMS) is planned to be launched onto Geostationary Earth Orbit in 2008. The meteorological imager (MI) is one of COMS payloads and has 5 spectral channels to monitor meteorological phenomenon around the Korean peninsular intensively and of Asian-side full Earth disk periodically. The MI has on-board radiometric calibration capabilities called 'blackbody calibration' for infrared channels and 'space look' for infrared/visible channels, and radiometric response stability monitoring device called 'albedo monitor' for visible channel. Additionally the MI has on-board function called 'electrical calibration' for the check of imaging path electronics of both infrared and visible channels. The characterization of MI performance is performed to provide the pre-launch radiometric calibration data which will be used for in-orbit radiometric calibration with the on-board calibration outputs. The radiometric calibration of the COMS MI is introduced in the view point of instrument side in terms of in-orbit calibration devices and capabilities as well as the pre-launch calibration activities and expected outputs.