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Kopia, L. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Kopia, L. P..

Failure of the ERBE scanner instrument aboard NOAA 10 spacecraft and results of failure analysis

The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) scanner instrument on the NOAA 10 spacecraft malfunctioned on May 22, 1989, after more than 4 years of in-flight operation. After the failure, all instrument operational mode commands were tested and the resulting data analyzed. Details of the tests and analysis of output data are discussed therein. The radiometric and housekeeping data appear to be valid. However, the instrument will not correctly execute operational scan mode commands or the preprogrammed calibration sequences. The data indicate the problem is the result of a failure in the internal address decoding circuity in one of the ROM (read only memory) chips of the instrument computer.

Miller, J. B.

Earth radiation budget experiment scanner instrument

Orbital measurements of the earth's radiation budget are being made from several spacecraft launched in the latter part of 1984. Three sets of instruments have been designed to measure the incident solar flux, the earth's long-wave emitted radiation, and the earth's reflected radiation more accurately than have been measured before. These instruments consist of a three-channel narrow field of view scanning radiometer and a four-channel wide field of view staring nonscanner radiometer and a solar channel. The instruments are collecting data on spectral, spatial, and temporal scales specified by scientists and researchers in the weather and climate discipline. The scanning radiometer, the subject of this paper, is designed to yield small-scale definition for measurements taken by the nonscanner and thereby test convolution/deconvolution techniques used on wide field of view data. The scanning radiometer is also expected to yield bidirectional reflectance data as an aid in radiation transfer modeling calculations.

Kopia, L. P.

Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) scanner instrument anomaly investigation

The results of an ad-hoc committee investigation of in-Earth orbit operational anomalies noted on two identical Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) Scanner instruments on two different spacecraft busses is presented. The anomalies are attributed to the bearings and the lubrication scheme for the bearings. A detailed discussion of the pertinent instrument operations, the approach of the investigation team and the current status of the instruments now in Earth orbit is included. The team considered operational changes for these instruments, rework possibilities for the one instrument which is waiting to be launched, and preferable lubrication considerations for specific space operational requirements similar to those for the ERBE scanner bearings.

Watson, N. D.

Earth Radiation Budget Experiment instrument design status

The design configuration of Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) instruments are presented. The ERBE scanners and nonscanners are discussed in terms of hardware and optical development, operational parameters, and calibration plans for ground and flight systems. The various instrument designs are given and described in detail. It is emphasized that the design goal is to approach state-of-the-art laboratory radiometric accuracies with spaceflight qualified hardware in an earth orbit environment with a projected operational lifetime of over two years. Accurate inputs to models of weather and climate are expected which will allow a better understanding of radiation transfer and the energy balance of the earth.

Kopia, L. P.

Transmitting and reflecting diffuser

An ultraviolet grade fused silica substrate is coated with vaporized fused silica. The coating thickness is controlled, one thickness causing ultraviolet light to diffuse and another thickness causing ultraviolet light to reflect a near Lambertian pattern.

Keafer, L. S., Jr.

Transmitting and reflecting diffuser

A near-Lambertian diffuser is described which transmits and reflects ultraviolet light. An ultraviolet grade fused silica substrate is coated with vaporized fuse silica. The coating thickness is controlled, one thickness causing ultraviolet light to diffuse and another thickness causing ultraviolet light to reflect a near Lambertian pattern.

Keafer, L. S., Jr.

Development of flight experiments for remote measurement of pollution

The status as of February 1973 of several NASA-sponsored development projects is reported concerning flight experiments for remote measurement of pollution. Eight passive multispectral instruments for remotely sensing air and water pollutants are described, as well as two active (laser radar) measuring techniques. These techniques are expected to add some new dimensions to the remote sensing of water quality, oceanographic parameters, and earth resources. Multiple applications in these fields are generally possible. Successful completion of the flight demonstration tests and comparisons with simultaneously obtained surface truth measurements may establish these techniques as valid water quality monitoring tools.

Keafer, L. S., Jr.

A transmitting and reflecting diffuser for ultraviolet light

Fabrication of ultraviolet radiation diffusing layer in configuration that uses ultraviolet properties of fused silica condensate is discussed. Construction and operation of the device are described. Diagram of reflecting diffuser to show construction and method of operation is included.

Keafer, L. S., Jr.