Ball Aerospace chooses Space-Grade Spectralon flight diffusers for mission’s Operation Land Imager
North Sutton, New Hampshire (March 23, 2009) – Labsphere has been selected to custom-engineer a set of in-flight diffuser panels for an upcoming NASA Earth observation mission.  Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. is supplying the Operation Land Imager (OLI) to the LANDSAT Data Continuity Mission using Labsphere’s Space-Grade Spectralon® plates to calibrate the instrument’s in-flight cameras.  The Labsphere targets deliver the highest level of uniform light integration with the stability required for the five-year global imaging mission.

For the OLI’s sensor, Ball Aerospace required an optically, thermally and environmentally stable calibration standard that delivers extremely stable, reproducible spectral reflectance.  Labsphere’s Space-Grade Spectralon was selected for its greater than 99 percent reflectance value and proven track record of success in over 25 space-flight applications.

Labsphere’s Space-Grade Spectralon is the only recognized Lambertian material that has been used in launch environments and is fully characterized.  The company will develop and build six in-flight diffusers for delivery in spring of 2009. 

LANDSAT satellites have been collecting data of the Earth’s continental surfaces for the last 30 years, creating the longest continuous record of Earth’s surface as seen from space.  The data and imagery collected in these missions is used agricultural monitoring, natural resource management and land-use planning.  The OLI is to be part of the eighth mission in the series, slated to launch in 2012.  Its 15 meter panachromatic and 30 meter multi-spectral imaging spatial resolutions create a wide enough swath to image the entire planet in just 16 days.

Part of the global Halma group of technology companies, Labsphere is a world leader in light testing and measurement and diffuse optical coatings.  The company’s products include LED, laser and traditional light source light measurement systems; uniform light sources for imaging device calibration; spectroscopy accessories; and high diffuse reflectance materials and coatings for applications in backlit panel displays, computed radiography, and system calibration.  The company’s expertise has resulted in multiple patents in areas such as methods for testing LEDs on a wafer and UV transmittance.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. supports critical missions of important national agencies such as the Department of Defense, NASA, NOAA and other U.S. government and commercial entities. The company develops and manufactures spacecraft, advanced instruments and sensors, components, data exploitation systems and RF solutions for strategic, tactical and scientific applications.

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Highly diffuse reflectance material provides reliable known reflectance values
North Sutton, New Hampshire (March 4, 2009) – With the highest diffuse reflectance values of any known substance, Labsphere’s Spectralon® Reflectance Standards provide the most accurate calibration for a variety of testing equipment.  Spectrophotometers, Densitometers, Integrating Sphere Systems, Optical Equipment, Photographic Equipment, Reflectometers and Remote Sensing Instruments can be calibrated according to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable standards.

Available in a variety of reflectance values and colors with values ranging from 2 to 99 percent reflectance values over the 250 – 2500 nm wavelength range, the diffuseness of Labsphere’s standards eliminate viewing angle errors.  Spectralon is the only known substance on the market that stays completely diffuse at these high reflectance values.

The standards come both calibrated and uncalibrated and are available individually and as sets.  The durable units are thermally stable, washable and waterproof for use in a wide variety of environments from laboratory to production and quality control.

Labsphere is currently offering a 20% discount on orders of 10 or more standards placed before March 15, 2009.  For more information e-mail Labsphere at standards@labsphere.com or phone +1 (603) 927-4266.

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