DEMETER: DEMonstrating the Emerging Technology for measuring the Earth's Radiation - Advancing Technology Readiness Level to 6 (DEMETER)

Earth's Radiation Budget (ERB) is the most fundamental measurement of the climate system. It describes how radiant energy is exchanged between Earth and space and how it is distributed within the climate system. Changes in ERB determine the rate at which Earth heats up or cools down and can lead to shifts in atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns and greater frequency and intensity of extreme events (flooding/drought/etc.). The Instrument Technology Maturation effort proposed herein will advance technology and further readiness of an innovative approach to provide seamless continuity of ERB measurements from present to future. The CERES instruments we depend upon for observing ERB are well past their design lifetime, and Libera, the current Program of Record, is an unproven design which will attempt to replicate the antiquated CERES concept of operations. This current paradigm of historical instruments flying on large satellite platforms (Terra/Aqua/JPSS) is no longer a future option. To extend and preserve the ERB record started in 2000 by CERES, there is a critical need to develop a novel, low-risk, low-cost, and sustainable solution for observing ERB measurements. Such technology needs to mature and overlap with current observations to seamlessly continue the ERB record. This necessitates a flight ready operational solution within 4 years to avoid a gap in the Climate Data Record (CDR). DEMonstrating the Emerging Technology for measuring the Earth's Radiation (DEMETER), is a revolutionary small satellite based ERB observational platform that will preserve continuity of the multi-decadal CDR and provide improved observational capabilities. Our long-term goal is to collect broadband reflected solar, emitted thermal infrared, and spectrally resolved radiances from this platform in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). DEMETER exploits new technology and integrates it with existing high TRL assets. It capitalizes on concurrent investments in technology demonstration flight programs from multiple agencies. Our ""right-size"" solution increases the spatial resolution of the measurement by a factor of 20, provides an onboard data processing capability, and reduces mass, power, and lifecycle cost by an order-of-magnitude compared to current approaches. Reduced accommodation requirements make it feasible to launch in multiple orbits, enabling a constellation for more complete sampling of the diurnal cycle of Earth's outgoing radiation fields, and reduces the risk of a data gap in the ERB record since a DEMETER platform can be launched as the need arises rather than depend upon a large satellite's launch schedule. This IIP opportunity is the next critical strategic step in advancing the instrument subsystem technologies, designed and developed under IIP 2019. The objective of this proposed effort is to incorporate repackaging for better form-fitting and execute an in-depth system-level performance test, in vacuum, of all modules (Broadband Optical Module and Calibration Module) to demonstrate and validate DEMETER's concept of operations, calibration protocols, and radiometric performance against a well-defined set of instrument requirements. This proposal covers a two-year period-of-performance (10/2024 to 10/2026) and advances the TRL of the proposed system from TRL 5 to TRL 6. The proposed effort will take advantage of high-fidelity prototype subassemblies built under IIP 19 and expand scope to build and test and integrate additional subassemblies into modules that were beyond the original IIP 19 effort. NASA Langley partners with JPL, Quartus Engineering, Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), and NovaWurks, to provide rich heritage and experience in the areas of space based ERB sensor design, calibration, mission operations, science data product generation and investigation. The key members have a combined 200+ years of direct ERB experience providing the needed expertise to proactively influence the maturation and address trades involved.

Increase scientific understanding of natural phenomena using remote sensing.

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