Mission and sampling analyses for atmospheric satellite experiments

Abstract

Orbital analyses, instrument-viewing geometry studies, and sampling simulations are performed to define mission concepts for advanced atmospheric research satellite experiments. These analyses are conducted in collaboration with NASA Headquarters and working groups consisting of atmospheric scientists and experiment developers. Analytical techniques are developed and used to optimize geographical coverage, sensor-viewing geometries, data gathering strategies, sampling schemes, orbital characteristics, satellite launch times, and operational modes of the various experiments and mission concepts. Short-term (7 day) Shuttle Missions, the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), and multisatellite missions such as the Earth Observing System (EOS) are being studied. Atmospheric experiments which are being analyzed include nadir-viewing sounders, limb-emission scanners, laser systems, and solar-occultation techniques.