Cryogenic Solar Absolute Radiometer - CSAR

The Cryogenic Solar Absolute Radiometer (CSAR) is a new primary radiometric standard for use in space traceable to the International. System of Units (SI). CSAR will have the potential to measure the total irradiance of the Sun with an uncertainty of 0.01% and a resolution of 0.001%, more than a factor ten improvement over existing instruments. Since CSAR will be cooled by a mechanical cooler based upon the Stirling cycle its working lifetime is projected to be in excess of 10 years.