Mini-cell, on-orbit, temperature re-calibration apparatus and method

A method comprising:

• selecting a blackbody traveling in a micro-gravity environment and comprising
• at least one temperature sensor,
• at least one phase constituency measurement device,
• first and second containers, said first container containing a first material, said second container containing a second material, and
• at least one heat transfer device;
• inducing, by said at least one heat transfer device, said first material through a phase change thereof;
• inducing, by said at least one heat transfer device, said second material through a phase change thereof;
• deriving, from signal output by said at least one temperature sensor, a first temperature corresponding to said first material during said phase change thereof at a point at which said at least one phase change constituency measurement device identifies a first phase change threshold value, and a second temperature corresponding to said second material during said phase change thereof at a point at which said at least one phase change constituency measurement device identifies a second phase change threshold value;
• calculating a correction correcting a disparity between said first temperature and said second temperature and known temperatures corresponding to said phase change of said first material and said phase change of said second material;
• and
• executing a calibration corresponding to said blackbody, said calibration comprising applying said correction to subsequent temperature readings obtained using said at least one temperature sensor.

A method comprising:

• selecting a blackbody traveling in a micro-gravity environment and comprising
• at least one temperature sensor,
• at least one phase constituency measurement device,
• first and second containers, said first container containing a first material, said second container containing a second material, and
• at least one thermoelectric cooling device positioned between said blackbody and said first container and said second container such that the only significant conductive thermal path from said first container and said second container to said blackbody is through said at least one thermoelectric cooling device;
• inducing, by said at least one thermoelectric cooling device, said first material through a phase change thereof;
• inducing, by said at least one thermoelectric cooling device, said second material through a phase change thereof;
• deriving, from a signal output by said at least one temperature sensor, a first temperature corresponding to said first material during said phase change thereof at a point at which said at least one phase change constituency measurement device identifies a first phase change threshold value, and a second temperature corresponding to said second material during said phase change thereof at a point at which said at least one phase change constituency measurement device identifies a second phase change threshold value;
• calculating a correction correcting a disparity between said first temperature and said second temperature and know temperatures corresponding to said phase change of said first material and said phase change of said second material;
• executing a first calibration corresponding to said blackbody, said first calibration comprising applying said correction to subsequent temperature readings obtained using said at least one temperature sensor;
• selecting an instrument traveling with said blackbody in said micro-gravity environment;
• and
• executing a second calibration corresponding to said instrument, said second calibration comprising sensing the electromagnetic radiation emanating from said blackbody after execution of said first calibration.