CHAPTER 8 SECTIONS > Radiometric Calibration Overview | Pre-Launch | Post-Launch
TM Cross Calibration | Geometric Calibration Overview | Alignment | Scan Mirror | Focal Plane

8.1 Radiometric Calibration Overview

A major objective of the Landsat-7 program is to upgrade the radiometric quality of the data to be commensurate with the other sensors in the Earth Observing System (EOS). Unlike its predecessors, a specific goal of the Landsat-7 program is to achieve radiometric calibrations of the data to ± 5% uncertainty over the 5 year life of the mission. Pre-launch, the mission design supports this requirement through hardware design changes, and instrument characterizations. Post-launch or on-orbit, this 5% requirement is supported by a monitoring and calibrations program, and the implementation of any necessary changes to the ground processing of the data.