Method and system for spectral calibration of a remote sensing sensor and a synthetic target having a tunable spectral composition

A method for spectral calibration of a sensor, comprising:

• disposing a plurality of reflective mirrors on a surface, the mirrors being arranged to reflect radiation from a source of radiation onto a remotely located radiation sensor,
• reflecting by a first mirror in the plurality of mirrors a first portion of the radiation in a first wavelength toward the remotely located radiation sensor;
• reflecting by a second mirror in the plurality of mirrors a second portion of the radiation in a second wavelength different from the first wavelength toward the remotely located radiation sensor;
• and
• calibrating the remotely located radiation sensor so as to provide a quantitative spectral relationship between the radiation detected at the remotely located sensor and the radiation reflected by the plurality of mirrors, wherein a cone angle or field-of-regard of the radiation reflected by the plurality of mirrors and measured by the sensor is maintained constant when a radius of curvature of one or more mirrors in the plurality of mirrors is increased and a size of the one or more mirrors in the plurality of mirrors is increased.

A synthetic target comprising:

• a plurality of reflective mirrors configured and arranged to reflect radiation from a source of radiation onto a remotely located radiation sensor,
• wherein a first mirror in the plurality of mirrors is configured to reflect a first portion of the radiation in a first wavelength toward the remotely located radiation sensor and a second mirror in the plurality of mirrors is configured to reflect a second portion of the radiation in a second wavelength different from the first wavelength toward the remotely located radiation sensor,
• wherein the plurality of mirrors are configured and arranged to test a performance of the remotely located radiation sensor or configured and arranged to generate synthetic spectra that simulate a spectral signature of natural or manmade materials, and
• wherein a cone angle or field-of-regard of the radiation reflected by the plurality of mirrors and measured by the sensor is maintained constant when a radius of curvature of one or more mirrors in the plurality of mirrors is increased and a size of the one or more mirrors in the plurality of mirrors is increased.