ALTAIR

The ALTAIR project provides a precision [0(0.1%) uncertainty] photometric reference calibration using in-situ-calibrated light sources above the atmosphere, in the optical and microwave spectra.

Flight Data Auxiliary Data Sample Images

ALTAIR will provide the means to eliminate the largest uncertainty in measurements of dark energy using supernovae, and (via an onboard precisely-polarized microwave source) a major uncertainty in the search for gravitational waves in the CMB, and additionally provides key information on atmospheric science.

Our partner project, ORCASat, a CubeSat version of the optical source of ALTAIR, was launched aboard CRS-26 from Kennedy Space Center up to the International Space Station (ISS) on Nov. 26, 2022, then deployed out of the ISS into its own low Earth orbit on Dec. 29, 2022 -- and has now begun its (~1.5 year) mission of calibrating telescopes at major optical observatories!  (ALTAIR itself will be simultaneously continuing with calibration flights using high-altitude balloons; the two techniques are quite different and complementary!)