The Chinese first target site for satellite remote sensor on-orbit performance assessment, Songshan Artificial Target Site, was built in Henan Province, China in September of 2013. This site can be used for high-resolution satellite remote sensor performance measurements such as modulation transfer function (MTF), GSD, linearity, dynamic range, radiometric resolution and absolute radiometric calibration. The overall plan, design and implement of the Songshan Artificial Target Site are presented. The results of GF-1 satellite in orbit MTF measurement based on the Target Site are introduced, and the site applications are suggested.

The precision of satellite optical load calibration must be enhanced to boost the quantitative application of the satellite. Currently calibration on earth is the most used method. In order to reduce the error caused by the environment between earth and space, the simulation of the real on-orbit environment is needed to carry out the calibration test. In view of the rapid development of vacuum calibration technology of satellite optical load, the development status at home and abroad in detail is described, and the concept and class of vacuum calibration are illuminated. In addition, according to the application of vacuum calibration technology, the system components and technical difficulties of vacuum spectral calibration and radiation calibration are analyzed. At last, expectation and suggestions for the development of vacuum calibration technology are presented.

Modulation transfer function (MTF) is an important parameter for image quality evaluation of satellite optical sensors. In-flight MTF measurement is also significant to the application of high resolution satellite remote sensing data and development of future satellite sensors. There are many on-orbit MTF estimation methods such as knife-edge method, pulse method, point source method and periodic target method. All these methods have their own features and achieved a certain degree of results. In order to improve MTF estimation accuracy of different spatial resolution optical satellite sensors, comparison and analysis are carried out in application scope, target deployment, data processing and application effects of different methods by expositing in-flight MTF measurement which is commonly used.

According to sun radiometer radiance calibration method and process applied to China aerosol robot sun photometer network (CARSNET) work, the characteristics and technical requirement of sun radiometer radiance calibration in lab are analyzed. To fill up the blank sun radiometer sky diffuse channels radiance calibration of short wavelength, and to improve retrieved aerosol accuracy, the LED reference light source for sun radiometer sky diffuse channels radiance calibration is designed. The test results show that the planar uniformity of the source is better than 99.9% at the 20 mm exit normal circular area, the angular uniformity is better than 99.9% within ±2? to the exit normal, and the stability of source is better than 99.8% within 2 h. The LED reference light source satisfies the requirements of sun radiometer short wavelength diffuse channels radiance calibration.

Correlated photons are generated by the spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) effects of nonlinear crystal pumped by highly intense laser. Two different quantum efficiency calibration methods of analog detectors and photon-counting regime are presented, including the theoretical expression, experimental plan, the advantages and disadvantages when compared with traditional methods. The application range and expression of the quantum efficiency of analog detectors in different calibration methods, as well as the last advances in photoelectric detectors calibration field and fundamental ideas are summarized. The next direction of investigation and the method of realization are mentioned. The future of this field is also viewed.

The interaction between solar radiance and aerosol shows polarization. Using the technique of polarization remote sensing shows advantages rather than the traditional method in studying microphysical parameter of aerosol. Firstly, the importance of calibration and the method were introduced. Then the working principle and feature of the instrument for polarization remote sensing were discussed. After that, the technique of onboard calibration for polarization remote sensing was discussed in detail. And its feature was analyzed and summarized. Finally, the trend in development of polarization remote sensing instrument and its onboard calibration was predicted.

Cryogenic radiometer has been used in remote sensor radiometric calibration fields as radiation primary standard with an uncertainty less than 10-4. The calibration process of cryogenic radiometer transferring to spaceborne remote sensors is summarized, and the uncertainty of all levels of the transfer standard is introduced in detail. Through actual calibration application of VXR, TXR in NASA’s EOS plan and radiance detector in FY-2, broad application prospect of this calibration technique is shown.

The measurement accuracy of the remote sensing satellite image points is of great significance for on-orbit geometric calibration of the satellite. To improve the measurement accuracy of ZY-3 satellite image points, four kinds of removable artificial signs with high and low reflectivity are designed. By the on-orbit test validation and a variety of measurement methods of the image points, the cross vertical angles sign is able to meet the design requirements of the minimum size and the best pattern is validated. The sign has good optical properties, physicochemical characteristics, and strong adaptability to the wild environment. The on-orbit test result indicates that this kinds of sign can be applied to the measurement of the current high-resolution, three-line array camera image points, and available to the predetermined 0.15 pixel measurement accuracy requirement of ZY-3 satellite on-orbit geometric calibration.

A new wavelength calibration method for the solar backscattered ultraviolet spectroradiometer (SBUS) was described. The characteristic lines with continuous spectrum plus monochromator were selected to overcome the deletion of discrete lines in special wavelength bands. The calibration light source system for the SBUS is made up of the high stable xenon lamp, the pre- and post- optical systems together with the 1.5 meters Czerny-Turner monochromator. The basic principle of the new method is the procedure of inter-calibration. The calibration light source system reference wavelengths is given by the SBUS’s mercury lamp in the ultraviolet band, which in turn provides the 12 characteristic wavelengths of ozone with a better linearity for SBUS. The calibrated results satisfy the demands of the wavelength accuracy and the spectral band precision for ozone retrieval.