In-orbit calibrations of space instruments are often necessary to ensure the accuracy of the measurements. The Moon provides a target with very predictable characteristics. In this report, the opportunities to perform in-orbit lunar calibrations of the MicroCarb instrument are evaluated and a procedure for conducting the Mission Planning for these calibrations is developed. Through modeling the spacecraft in its orbit, simulations show that continuous observation sequences of up to 48 minutes can be expected each lunation. The variability of the optical properties of the Moon during an opportunity is related to the orientation of the plane of the orbit of the spacecraft with respect to the cone with axis the Moon-Sun direction and apex the center of the Moon that contains the spacecraft. Choosing a value of the phase angle (Sun-Moon-Spacecraft angle) around −20 degrees to plan the lunar calibrations allows to minimize the variations of apparent radiance of the Moon during the observation. The results make it possible to refine the choice of the best moments to plan the lunar calibrations. This also allows the satellite operations team to anticipate the planning of lunar calibrations on the scale of several months. / Kalibreringar i omloppsbana för rymdinstrument är ofta nödvändiga för att säkerställa mätningarnas noggrannhet. Månen utgör ett kalibreringsmål med mycket förutsägbara egenskaper. I denna rapport utvärderas möjligheterna att utföra månkalibreringar i omloppsbana för MicroCarb-instrumentet och ett förfarande för genomförande av uppdragsplanering för dessa kalibreringar har utvecklats. Genom att modellera rymdfarkosten i sin bana visar simuleringar att kontinuerliga observationssekvenser på upp till 48 minuter kan förväntas varje månvarv. Variationen hos de optiska egenskaperna för månen under ett tillfälle är relaterad till orienteringen av rymdfarkostens plan i förhållande till konen med axeln för månen-solens riktning. Att välja ett värde för fasvinkeln (Sun-Moon-Spacecraft-vinkel) på runt −20 grader vid planering av månkalibreringarna gör det möjligt att minimera variationerna i månens strålning under observationen. Resultaten gör det möjligt att förfina valet av de bästa tidpunkterna för månkalibreringarna. Detta gör det också möjligt för satellitoperationsteamet att förutse planeringen av månkalibreringar flera månader framåt.

Knowledge of effective reef restoration techniques are necessary in this age of worldwide coral reef decline. Coral transplantation is a restoration technique employed after natural (i.e. hurricanes) and anthropogenic (i.e. vessel groundings) physical disturbance events. The study was conducted to compare the efficacy of propagating small colony fragments in laboratory and field conditions in terms of survival and growth. Fragment growth and survival were assessed for six scleractinian boulder corals common to Florida and Caribbean reefs: Montastraea annularis, M. cavernosa, Diploria clivosa, Siderastrea siderea, S. radians and Dichocoenia stokesii. Broken coral colonies were salvaged from vessel grounding sites and marine debris, fragmented into pucks and secured to travertine tiles. One hundred and fifty-three coral colony fragments were cultivated in an ex situ laboratory nursery and 133 coral colony fragments were cultivated in an in situ field nursery and monitored for 13 months. Survival of all colonies was 94%, with 98% survival in the laboratory treatment and 89% survival in the field treatment. Complete colony mortality was documented in three S. radians colonies, all in the laboratory treatment. All colony loss in the field treatment was due to colony pucks being detached from the tiles. Overall mean percent change in colony tissue area from initial to final monitoring events was calculated to determine growth. Across species, growth was greater in the laboratory treatment (76 ± 4 % SEM) in comparison to the field treatment (27 ± 5 % SEM). Positive growth was observed in D. clivosa, D. stokesii, M. annularis, M. cavernosa and S. siderea in the laboratory treatment. In the field treatment, D. clivosa, M. annularis and M. cavernosa were the only species that exhibited positive growth. Negative growth was observed in both the laboratory and field treatments for S. radians. In conclusion, colonies propagated in the ex situ nursery (laboratory treatment) had higher growth and survival than colonies propagated in the in situ nursery (field treatment). A critical acclimation period accomplished through the use of stable laboratory conditions will produce healthier, more secure coral colonies that may be used to repopulate disturbed reef sites.