Title: From Incubator to Space: Ten Years of Infrared Sensor Technology Development at NASA Langley
Primary Author: Mlynczak, Martin
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center
Co-Author(s): David Johnson, Richard Cageao,  M. Nurul Abedin, David Kratz, NASA Langley

Abstract:
Over the past decade NASA Langley Research Center and its partners, with support from the Earth Science Technology Office, have been developing and demonstrating technology to measure Earthís complete infrared spectrum from space, from within the atmosphere, and from the Earthís surface. The projects have ranged from instrument development (e.g., the FIRST, INFLAME, and CORSAIR Instrument Incubator projects) to component technology (e.g., the FIREBIB Advanced Component Technology project). The results of these projects are now being fed into the development of the Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) satellite mission. In this talk we will give an overview of the science motivating the measurement of the complete infrared spectrum at high accuracy, the technological challenges, and the results of these several projects. There are now two new unique instruments (FIRST; INFLAME) and new components whose development are enabling an unprecedented view of Earthís climate from space within the next decade.