NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Integration and Testing for the CLARREO Pathfinder Payload is complete! 🎉 Now, CLARREO Pathfinder will go into storage at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics in Boulder, CO, where it will wait for a future ride to the International International Space Station. Photo credit: LASP

NASA presented its prestigious Group Achievement Award to the CLARREO Pathfinder (CPF) HySICS Characterization and Test Team in a ceremony held at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder on Sept. 17. The award recognized the team’s groundbreaking efforts in developing and testing the Hyperspectral Imager for Climate Science (HySICS)—an instrument that will provide highly accurate measurements of reflected solar radiation, which is critical to understanding Earth’s changing climate.

Members of the CPF team accept Group Achievement Awards for the Power Converter Team and the HySICS Characterization and Test Team, as well as an Exceptional Achievement Medal (Dr. Yolanda Shea) and an Outstanding Leadership Medal (Gary Fleming). Congratulations, Team! Photo Credit: NASA LaRC

CPF Lead Systems Engineer Brian Boland receives a 35-year Service Award in recognition and appreciation of his service to NASA and to the government of the United States of America. Thank you and congratulations, Brian! Photo credit: NASA LaRC

CPF testing and integration on ExPA complete Sept 2024 The payload-level thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing has been successfully completed, marking a significant milestone for the CLARREO Pathfinder (CPF) project. Successful TVAC testing gives the CPF team confidence that the payload can operate in space environment conditions while on the International Space Station (ISS). After removal from the TVAC chamber, the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) team in Boulder, CO completed integration of the CPF payload, including the Langley-built Power Converter Unit (PCU) and all flight harnessing, with the ExPRESS Payload Adapter (ExPA). The ExPA is the interface mechanism used to attach the CPF payload to the ISS. Following integration, a variety of payload performance tests will be conducted in preparation for payload storage. Photo credit: LASP

The CLARREO Pathfinder (CPF) payload has been integrated! As of March 2024, all the pieces of CPF are now together, including the pointing system and heart of CPF, the Hyperspectral Imager for Climate Science (HySICS) instrument. Photo credit: LASP

The CLARREO Pathfinder (CPF) payload has been integrated! As of March 2024, all the pieces of CPF are now together, including the pointing system and heart of CPF, the Hyperspectral Imager for Climate Science (HySICS) instrument. Photo credit: LASP

The CLARREO Pathfinder (CPF) payload has been integrated! As of March 2024, all the pieces of CPF are now together, including the pointing system and heart of CPF, the Hyperspectral Imager for Climate Science (HySICS) instrument. Photo credit: LASP

LaRC Project Manager Gary Fleming discusses project updates at the Pre-Environmental Review (PER) at LASP on Dec. 13th, 2023.

LaRC Risk Manager Stephanie Harrison discusses project risks at the Pre-Environmental Review (PER) at LASP on Dec. 13th, 2023.

LASP Project Manager Greg Ucker discusses project updates at the Pre-Environmental Review (PER) at LASP on Dec. 13th, 2023.

NASA LaRC hosted over 40,000 members of the public during the LaRC Open House on October 21. Members of the CLARREO Pathfinder team were very proud to staff a CLARREO Pathfinder exhibit table and show a full-scale model of the payload to educate interested members of the public about the mission.

NASA LaRC hosted over 40,000 members of the public during the LaRC Open House on October 21. Members of the CLARREO Pathfinder team were very proud to staff a CLARREO Pathfinder exhibit table and show a full-scale model of the payload to educate interested members of the public about the mission.

NASA LaRC hosted over 40,000 members of the public during the LaRC Open House on October 21. Members of the CLARREO Pathfinder team were very proud to staff a CLARREO Pathfinder exhibit table and show a full-scale model of the payload to educate interested members of the public about the mission.

Vibe check! NASA's CLARREO Pathfinder will detect subtle changes in the Earth's climate using instruments like the HySICS spectrometer, which recently completed characterization & environmental testing, including vibration tests.

The Goddard Laser for Absolute Measurement of Radiance (GLAMR) team along with the LASP team and Independent Calibration team completed 10 days of independent calibration testing of HySICS on September 29. One of the highlights of the testing was that the GLAMR team achieved a record number of wavelengths tuned during a two-shift day as part of the effort.

The Goddard Laser for Absolute Measurement of Radiance (GLAMR) team along with the LASP team and Independent Calibration team completed 10 days of independent calibration testing of HySICS on September 29. One of the highlights of the testing was that the GLAMR team achieved a record number of wavelengths tuned during a two-shift day as part of the effort.

The Goddard Laser for Absolute Measurement of Radiance (GLAMR) and Independent Calibration teams celebrated together for successfully completing 10 days of independent calibration testing of HySICS!

The payload has been mounted, the launch locks engaged, and the Melinex tent and workhorse blankets installed in preparation of shipment to Electro-Mechanical Industries (EMI). Photo credit: LASP

Dr. Yolanda Shea shares her story of her career path to Earth science research at NASA in her Behind the Science interview available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1s5ow--lLs

Project Manager Gary Fleming is recognized for his role as a mentor at the LaRC MERGE Mentor Awards. He received three separate nominations for this award! Congratulations, Gary!

Yolanda Shea (CPF Project Scientist) delivers hyperwall talk at the NASA Exhibit Booth at the Dec. 2022 AGU Meeting in Chicago. Photo credit: Amber Dooley

CPF Outreach Lead Amber Dooley shares updates about the CLARREO Pathfinder mission and its science with attendees at the AGU Fall Meeting in Chicago in Dec. 2022. Photo credit: Mike Taylor

The LASP team continues to make progress on assembling the HySICS Pointing System (HPS) onto the baseplate. Photo credit: LASP

LASP team members work on the HySICS (Hyperspectral Imager for Climate Science) instrument during the alignment of the spectrometer optical elements. Photo credit: LASP

A view of the HySICS Pointing System, or HPS. This is massive! There is the "cradle" about which the instrument rotates about one of its axes and the whole cradle can rotate about its azimuth. The two axes allow the instrument to point at the Sun, Moon, and match view angles with other sensors. The large size is illustrative of the exquisite control required to keep the instrument steady and pointing precisely on the ISS. Photo credit: LASP

Yolanda Shea & Gary Fleming share the importance of CLARREO Pathfinder with Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator, and members of Congress during their visit to NASA Langley. (Photo credit: NASA/David C. Bowman)

Xu Liu receives NASA Agency Honor Award for Exceptional Scientific Achievement.

Congratulations to CLARREO Pathfinder’s Associate Project Manager, Stephanie Harrison, on receiving the NASA Guiding Star Mentor Award for her exceptional mentorship, fostering inspiration, and dedication to the future diverse generation of NASA’s talent. Stephanie has been a mentor to our NASA Pathways Intern, Kaitlyn Bebb for the past 2 years. Images of the 2022 MERGE (Mentoring Employees to Realize Goals and Experiences) Mentoring Awards held in the Reid Auditorium. Photo credit: NASA LaRC, Mark Knopp

Congratulations to Raj Bhatt on receiving the Journal of Applied Science Remote Sensing 2022 Best Paper Award for Theoretical Innovation!

Stephen Bowen, Robert Walker, Juan Mosquera, David McLain, Kenny Elliott are involved with the testing for the CLARREO PF PCU. Credits: NASA/Dave Bowman

Stephen Bowen, Robert Walker, Juan Mosquera, David McLain, Kenny Elliott are involved with the testing for the CLARREO PF PCU. Credits: NASA/Dave Bowman

Stephen Bowen, Robert Walker, Juan Mosquera, David McLain, Kenny Elliott are involved with the testing for the CLARREO PF PCU. Photo Credit: NASA/Dave Bowman

Stephen Bowen, Robert Walker, Juan Mosquera, David McLain, Kenny Elliott are involved with the testing for the CLARREO PF PCU. Credits: NASA/Dave Bowman

Assisted by Nancy Holloway, Gary Fleming recognized those who worked on the CLARREO Pathfinder 3D model. Credits: NASA/David C. Bowman

Yolanda Shea Featured as part of Modern Figures series at NASA LaRC. Credits: NASA

Celebrating CLARREO Pathfinder engineer Stephen Bowen who graduated with a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Colorado Boulder!

Former CPF Program Executive Dr. Tahani Amer recently delivered a STEM talk to students at the U.S. Embassy in Egypt where she shared about NASA Earth Science missions including CLARREO PF.

CPF Deputy Project Manager Nalin Ratnayake received a NASA Special Act Award for his extraordinary leadership as a Contracting Officer's Representative on a NIA contract and Cooperative Agreement. He successfully led an effort to bring software-related work packages into full compliance. The CPF team is lucky to have an award winning COR on our team!

Members of the GSFC GLAMR team (Julia Barsi and Joel McCorkel pictured here) attended the successful launch of Landsat-9 on September 27, 2021. The GLAMR facility was used to characterize the Landsat-9 OLI-2 spectral response and will be used to verify the calibration model of the CLARREO Pathfinder HySICS instrument. Launch photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Congratulations to Bruce Wielicki on receiving the AMS Warren Washington Research and Leadership Medal!

The CLARREO Pathfinder team celebrates completing & shipping the Power Converter Unit (PCU) to partner LASP. The PCU serves as the power interface between CLARREO Pathfinder and the ISS, ensuring that the right level of power is delivered to the rest of the CLARREO Pathfinder payload. (Photo credit: NASA/Mark Knopp).

CLARREO Pathfinder (CPF) Team member Stephanie Harrison receives a certificate of appreciation for her work on the Power Converter Unit (PCU). (Photo credit: NASA/Mark Knopp).

3D model of the Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory Pathfinder (CLARREO-PF) Credits: NASA