In-orbit response versus scan-angle (RVS) validation for the GOES-16 ABI solar reflective bands Earth Observing Systems XXIII

The weather instrument of Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) is the mission critical instrument on-board the GOES-16 satellite. Compared to the predecessor GOES Imager, GOES-16 ABI has many new advanced technical devices and algorithms to improve the data quality, including the double scan-mirror system. To validate the in-orbit response versus scan-angle (RVS), the Moon is used as a reference target for this purpose. During the post-launch test (PLT) and post-launch product test (PLPT) period, a series of special scans were conducted to chase and collect the lunar images at optimal phase angle range when it transited across the space within the ABI Field of Regard (FOR) from West to East. Analyses of the chasing events above and below the Earth indicated that the RVS variations at the East-West (EW) direction are generally less than 1% for all the six solar reflective bands. Same method is being applied to validate the GOES-17 ABI spatial uniformity for the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) bands.