Joel Cardon

Rapidly updated hyperspectral sounding and imaging data for severe storm prediction

Several studies have shown that a geostationary hyperspectral imager/sounder can provide the most significant value increase in short term, regional numerical prediction weather models over a range of other options. In 1998, the Geostationary Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) proposal was selected by NASA as the New Millennium Earth Observation 3 program over several other geostationary instrument development proposals. After the EO3 GIFTS flight demonstration program was changed to an Engineering Development Unit (EDU) due to funding limitations by one of the partners, the EDU was subjected to flight-like thermal vacuum calibration and testing and successfully validated the breakthrough technologies needed to make a successful observatory. After several government stops and starts, only EUMETSAT’s Meteosat Third Generation (MTG-S) sounder is in operational development. Recently, a commercial partnership has been formed to fill the significant data gap. AsiaSat has partnered with GeoMetWatch (GMW)1 to fund the development and launch of the Sounding and Tracking Observatory for Regional Meteorology (STORMTM) sensor, a derivative of the Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) EDU that was designed, built, and tested by Utah State University (USU). STORMTM combines advanced technologies to observe surface thermal properties, atmospheric weather, and chemistry variables in four dimensions to provide high vertical resolution temperature and moisture sounding information, with the fourth dimension (time) provided by the geosynchronous satellite platform ability to measure a location as often as desired. STORMTM will enhance the polar orbiting imaging and sounding measurements by providing: (1) a direct measure of moisture flux and altitude-resolved water vapor and cloud tracer winds throughout the troposphere, (2) an observation of the time varying atmospheric thermodynamics associated with storm system development, and (3) the transport of tropospheric pollutant gases. The AsiaSat/GMW partnership will host the first STORMTM sensor on their AsiaSat 9 telecommunications satellite at 122 E over the Asia Pacific area. GMW’s business plan is to sell the unique STORM data and data products to countries and companies in the satellite coverage area. GMW plans to place 6 STORMTM sensors on geostationary telecommunications satellites to provide global hyperspectral sounding and imaging data. Utah State University’s Advanced Weather Systems Laboratory (AWS) will build the sensors for GMW.

Validation assessment model for atmospheric retrievals

A linear mathematical error model for the assessment of validation activity of atmospheric retrievals is presented. The purpose of the validation activity is to assess the actual performance of the remote sensing validated system while in orbit by comparing its measurements to some relevant-validating-data sets. The validating system samples volumes of the atmosphere at times and locations that are different from the ones when and where the validated system makes its own observations. The location of the validating system can be either stationary, e.g. a ground ARM site, or movable, e.g. an aircraft or some other satellites. The true states may be correlated or not. The sampled volumes differ from each other by their location, timing, and size. The validated and validating systems have different vertical resolution and grid, absolute accuracy, and noise level. All the above factors cause apparent differences between the data to be compared. The validation assessment model makes the comparison accurate by allowing for the differences. The model can be used for assessment and interpretation of the validation results when the above mentioned sources of discrepancies are significant, as well as for evaluation of a particular validating data source.

STORM: sounding and tracking observatory for regional meteorology to launch in 2016

Ultra-spectral sounders (USS) in low earth orbit have significantly improved weather forecast accuracy in recent years, and their impact could be significantly improved with reduced revisit times. The GeoMetWatch, Inc.1 Sounding and Tracking Observatory for Regional Meteorology (STORMTM) program is designed to place a constellation of six USS units in spaced geostationary (GEO) positions around the earth. From GEO, the repeat time for a specific weather feature can be reduced to minutes, and the vertical temperature, water vapor and wind profiles can provide detailed warnings not available by any other means. The STORMTM sensor, a derivative of the Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) EDU that was designed and built for NASA by Utah State University (USU) and rigorously tested in 2006, will be launched on a commercial geostationary satellite in late 2016. It combines advanced technologies to provide improved performance and reliability over the original EDU. From GEO the USS can observe surface thermal properties and atmospheric weather and chemistry variables in four dimensions. This paper provides an overview of the STORMTM instrument and the measurement concept. STORMTM’s USS will provide data of the same quality as the current LEO satellite sounders (AIRS, CrIS, and IASI) but with the ability to track storm development with soundings and images at any desired rate. Wind profiles obtained from a time sequence of STORMTM water vapor retrieval images will provide additional input to now casting and regional models.

Pre-launch characterization of the WISE payload

The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), launched on December 14, 2009, is a NASA-funded Explorer mission that is providing an all-sky survey in the mid-infrared with far greater sensitivity and resolution than any previous IR survey mission. The WISE science payload is a cryogenically cooled infrared telescope with four 1024x1024 infrared focal plane arrays covering from 2.8 to 26 μm, which was designed, fabricated, and characterized by Utah State Universitys Space Dynamics Laboratory. Pre-launch charaterization included measuring focus, repeatability, response non-linearity, saturation, latency, absolute response, flatfield, point response function, scanner linearity, and relative spectral response. We will provide a brief overview of the payload, discuss the overall characterization approach, review several pre-launch characterization methods in detail, and present selected results from ground characterization and early on-orbit performance.

The WISE science payload: management lessons learned

The Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer is a NASA Medium Class Explorer mission which launched in December, 2009 to perform an all-sky survey in four infrared wavelength bands. The science payload is a cryogenically cooled infrared telescope with four 1024x1024 infrared focal plane arrays covering the wavelength range from 2.6 to 26 μm. The survey has been highly successful, with millions of images collected, and nearly daily discoveries of previously unknown astronomical objects. The WISE science payload was designed, built, and characterized by the Space Dynamics Laboratory at Utah State University. This paper provides a brief overview of the WISE science payload and its on-orbit performance and describes lessons learned from managing the design, fabrication, testing, and operation of a state-of-the-art electro-optical payload.

WISE ground characterization challenges and accomplishments

NASAs Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), which launched in December 2009, is currently producing an allsky survey in the mid-infrared (2.8 - 26 microns) with far greater sensitivity and resolution than any previous IR survey mission. The ongoing on-orbit calibration of the instrument is performed at the Wise Science Data Center (WSDC), but several of the calibration parameters of interest were best measured on the ground, and have been maintained as part of the on-orbit calibration process. The Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) built the science payload, and performed a series of ground characterization tests prior to launch. A challenge in a MIDEX mission such as WISE is to balance the various program demands to perform a thorough ground calibration within schedule and budget constraints, while also demonstrating compliance with formal flow-down requirements, and simultaneously verifying that performance has not been degraded during late-program environmental testing. These activities are not always entirely compatible. This paper presents an assessment of ground characterization challenges and solutions that contributed to a successful WISE mission.

Pre-Launch Characterization of the WISE Payload

The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), launched in December 2009, is a NASA-funded Explorer mission that is providing an all-sky survey in the mid-infrared with far greater sensitivity and resolution than any previous IR survey mission. The Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory designed, fabricated, and characterized the science payload, which is a cryogenically cooled infrared telescope with four 1024x1024 infrared focal plane arrays covering from 2.8 to 26 μm. Pre-launch characterization included measuring focus, image quality, repeatability, response nonlinearity, saturation, latency, absolute response, flatfield, point response function, scanner linearity, and relative spectral response. This paper provides a brief overview of the payload, discusses pre-launch characterization methods, and presents key performance results from ground characterization and early on-orbit performance.