Press Release
Date: 4/8/2008Arvada, CO
N-Science Corporation Acknowledges Testing Success of the CrIS Instrument
N-Science is pleased to acknowledge and congratulate the Northrup-Grumman/ITT team on the successful completion of the Sensor Level Vibration testing of the CrIS instrument. This testing simulates the loads the instrument will experience during spacecraft test and launch. N-science is proud to have provided the anti-reflection surface treatments for this instrument.
Process engineers from N-Science provided the Deep Space Black™ (DSB) low reflectance treatments on critical surfaces of the CrIS. The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) instrument is an advanced atmospheric sounding instrument built for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) and the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP).
The CrIS is being prepared for delivery to meet the NPOESS and NPP mission objectives. One more environmental test remains before CrIS' delivery for integration on the NPP spacecraft. ITT will conduct thermal vacuum testing of the instrument at its facility in Fort Wayne, Ind.
CrIS will provide accurate, detailed atmospheric temperature and moisture observations for weather and climate applications. Forecasters use temperature and moisture-sounding data in advanced numerical weather prediction models to improve both global and regional predictions of weather patterns, storm tracks, and precipitation.
The Deep Space Black™ process produces a surface which is extremely absorptive over a wide range of wavelengths from ultraviolet (UV), through the visible, and into the infrared (IR) spectrum. The combination of surface absorptivity and mechanical stability of the material over this range provides its unparalled performance as has been validated once again by this testing of the CrIS instrument.
DSB processes are carried out by N-Science/Advanced Surface Technologies in Arvada, CO. The N-Sci/AST Optical Surfaces organization, is responsible for all aspects of DSB engineering and production.
N-Science Corp Contact:
Dan Scheld
dlscheld@nscicorp.com
www.nscicorp.com
Cell: 303-718-9502