Read our blog to see how we Go Beyond® to ensure a better, safer, more informed and more productive world.
Ball Aerospace Names Two Washington D.C.-Based Directors to Washington Operations
Ball Aerospace’s Dr. Jeanette Domber Named AIAA Fellow
Ball Aerospace Names Bobby Wilkinson, Jr. as Senior Director, Diversity and Inclusion
Meet our company executives
Want to work with us? Learn about the careers and internships we offer
Reach out to us if you have any questions
See how we play a key role in all phases of science mission development
Learn about how we are taking STEM outreach to the next generation of scientists and engineers
CIRiS: Low Cost. High-Value Scientific Data.
Small but capable, Ball’s CIRiS instrument will observe the Earth from a spacecraft no larger than a shoebox. The miniaturized instrument weighs only 1.4 kg (3 lb); due to its small size and weight, the cost of launch is substantially reduced, contributing to lower overall mission costs. CIRiS collects highly calibrated infrared images of land and ocean surfaces. Ball began CIRiS development with an aircraft-mounted instrument, adapting it for the special challenges of the space environment and operation on a 6U CubeSat. CIRiS uses carbon nanotube calibration sources to perform on-orbit calibration from a much smaller platform than previously possible. A state-of-the-art uncooled infrared imaging detector enables greater sensitivity without active cooling, eliminating power requirements and weight from the system. Funded by the NASA InVEST (In space Validation of Earth Science Technology) program, the mission objective is to demonstrate new CubeSat-compatible technologies enabling Earth observation for scientific applications. CIRiS implements this goal by using its innovative technologies for accurate calibration, on the ground, and in-orbit.
CIRiS collects images simultaneously in three long-wavelength bands. The data provide information about the Earth’s land and sea surface temperatures and properties of clouds and the atmosphere. Further image analysis supports applications including the mapping of soil moisture for measuring local drought conditions and investigation of conditions preceding extreme storms. Data will help scientists and decision makers with evaluating drought severity, climate modeling and other important questions about the Earth.
Learn more about CIRiS in NASA's ESTO technology portfolio.
Download this PDF to learn about how the CIRiS instrument provides maximum science return in a compact unit.
An overview of the instrument and the mission.
Ball designed, built, tested and calibrated CIRiS to integrate onto the CubeSat. CIRiS launched to the International Space Station on December 5, 2019 and was deployed a few weeks later to begin collecting data. Ball is conducting mission operations with the aid of Space Dynamics Laboratory. Ground and on-orbit data will be analyzed and stored by Ball for future applications.
Feature article in SatMagazine, written by VP, Debra Factor.
Learn more about our BESST sensor with this download.
Learn more about our heritage in high-tech instruments and sensors.
Learn more about our weather and climate monitoring capabilities
E: info@ball.com