Data Reduction and Early Science Calibration for FORCAST, A Mid-Infrared Camera for SOFIA

AbstractFORCAST is a mid-infrared (5–40 μm) facility instrument for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). After achieving first light flight in 2010 May, FORCAST has completed two observatory characterization flights and thirteen science flights on SOFIA. In this paper we describe the photometric calibration of FORCAST which involves some subtleties in correction for array artifacts and uncertainties due to the airborne environment. At present FORCAST is able to achieve approximately 20% (3σ) uncertainty in the calibration.