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NASA NTRS2009

Orbital Debris Quarterly News: No. 1 - Volume 13

Topics discussed include: new debris from a decommissioned satellite with a nuclear power source; debris from the destruction of the Fengyun-1C meteorological satellite; quantitative analysis of the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle 'Jules Verne' reentry event; microsatellite impact tests; solar cycle 24 predictions and other long-term projections and geosynchronus (GEO) environment for the Orbital Debris Engineering Model (ORDEM2008). Abstracts from the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office, examining satellite reentry risk assessments and statistical issues for uncontrolled reentry hazards, are also included.

Liou, J.-C.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Flood Detection with Synthetic Aperture Radar: A Case Study of Houston, Texas Following Hurricane Harvey (2017) using C- and X-Band Observations

Hurricane Harvey produced record-breaking rainfall of up to 60 inches resulting in extensive flooding in Houston, Texas, in late August and early September of 2017. The slow forward motion of the storm following landfall left much of the area unobservable to optical remote sensing instruments for several days due to cloud cover. The active nature of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instruments allows for observations through clouds, which can supplement efforts to estimate hurricane-induced flood impacts. A growing fleet of SAR constellations has helped lower the latency of imagery following a hurricane, allowing for more timely detections of flooding to help support emergency response efforts. In this study, we leverage publicly available C-band SAR observations from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1B (S1B) satellite, collected on 30 August, and X-band SAR imagery collected on 1 September by the Airbus TanDEM-X (TDX) satellite made available through the NASA Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program. For each dataset, one co-polarized, StripMap, Radiometric Terrain Corrected (RTC) image was used to create a binary water/no water classification map by referencing permanent water in the Cropland Data Layer (CDL) dataset to determine thresholds. A validation dataset of randomly distributed “ground truth” points was generated using optical imagery from PlanetScope on 31 August, where the domain had relatively little cloud cover. We found that the S1B- and TDX-derived open water maps achieved overall accuracies of 94.17% and 91.57%, respectively. The variation in performance is attributed to both the penetrative abilities of C- and X-band SAR wavelengths in vegetated areas and the increased spatial resolution of the commercial SAR (~3 m) over Sentinel-1 (30 m). While publicly available Sentinel-1 observations are commonly relied upon in response and recovery efforts, these results suggest that including commercial X-band SAR imagery could be beneficial by providing both increased spatial resolution and more frequent revisits when deriving post-event flood mapping products.

Alexander M Melancon↗

NASA NTRS2007

International Collaboration in Lunar Exploration

The U.S. Vision for Space Exploration commits the United States to return astronauts to the moon by 2020 using the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle and Ares V Cargo Launch Vehicle. Like the Apollo program of the 1960s and 1970s, this effort will require preliminary reconnaissance in the form of robotic landers and probes. Unlike Apollo, some of the data NASA will rely upon to select landing sites and conduct science will be based on international missions as well, including SMART-1, SELENE, and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Opportunities for international cooperation on the moon also lie in developing lunar exploration technologies. The European Space Agency's SMART-1 orbiter (Figure 1) is making the first comprehensive inventory of key chemical elements in the lunar surface. It is also investigating the impact theory of the moon's formation.'

Morris, K. Bruce↗

NASA NTRS1995

An atlas of monthly mean distributions of SSMI surface wind speed, AVHRR/2 sea surface temperature, AMI surface wind velocity, TOPEX/POSEIDON sea surface height, and ECMWF surface wind velocity during 1993

The following monthly mean global distributions for 1993 are presented with a common color scale and geographical map: 10-m height wind speed estimated from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSMI) on a United States (U.S.) Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) spacecraft; sea surface temperature estimated from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR/2) on a U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite; 10-m height wind speed and direction estimated from the Active Microwave Instrument (AMI) on the European Space Agency (ESA) European Remote Sensing (ERS-1) satellite; sea surface height estimated from the joint U.S.-France Topography Experiment (TOPEX)/POSEIDON spacecraft; and 10-m height wind speed and direction produced by the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF). Charts of annual mean, monthly mean, and sampling distributions are displayed.

Halpern, D.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Hubble Space Telescope Briefing: HST Science Overview

This NASA Kennedy Space Center video release presents a broad overview of the science that is now possible as a result of the servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Dr. Ed Weiler (HST Program Scientist, NASA Headquarters), Dr. Dave Leckrone (HST, Senior Project Scientist, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)), Dr. John Trauger (Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) Principal Investigator, Jet Propulsion Lab. (JPL)), Dr. Chris Burrows (WFPC2 Co-Investigator, Space Telescope Science Inst.(STSci)-European Space Agency (ESA), Jim Crocker ((Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement) COSTAR Team Leader, STSci), Dr. Holland Ford (COSTAR Project Scientist, Johns Hopkins Univ., STSci), and Dr. Duccio Machetto (European Space Agency (ESA)) give brief presentations, which feature images of stars and galaxies taken from the ground, from WFPC1 (prior to the servicing mission), and from WFPC2 (after the servicing mission). The main theme of the discussions center around the spherical aberration that was found in the images prior to servicing and the corrected images seen without the aberration following servicing. A question and answer period rounds out the press conference, with questions posed from scientific journalists at GSFC and other NASA centers.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2011

An Overview of STS-132 MRM1 Cargo Element Thermal Model Development and Analyses

STS-132 was launched in May 2010 and delivered the Russian Mini Research Module 1 (MRM1) cargo element to the International Space Station as part of the ULF-4 assembly flight. The cargo element consisted of the module outfitted with externally mounted Multi-purpose Laboratory Module (MLM) Airlock, MLM radiator, Portable Work Platform (PWP), and a European Robotic Arm (ERA) spare elbow. Prior to every Shuttle flight, hardware developers are required to determine compatibility of their hardware to thermal environments experienced during the Shuttle mission and once the element is integrated with the ISS. Thermal models are provided to the Shuttle program to determine the impact of the payload on the Orbiter hardware, as well as the ISS program to determine impacts on other ISS payloads in the Orbiter. Historically the Russian International Partner (IP) develops models in formats not compatible with software used by Space Shuttle or ISS programs. This prompted NASA and Lockheed Martin to develop a unique set of thermal models for the MRM1 cargo element. Subsequent ULF-4 mission analyses performed with the models assessed the launch to activation response, identified operational criteria documented in flight rules, and ensured compliance with the mission timeline and no hazards to the crew, orbiter, or ISS. This presentation provides an overview of the work performed, depicts unique approaches in model development, discusses lessons learned, and issue resolution approaches. Though development and analysis efforts spanned over four years and presented various integration challenges it provided an example of successful collaboration with our International Partners.

Perez, Miguel Fernando↗

NASA NTRS2003

Research progress and accomplishments on International Space Station

long duration↗

NASA NTRS2002

Research Progress and Accomplishments on ISS

The first research payloads reached the International Space Station (ISS) more than two years ago, with research operating continuously since March 2001. Seven research racks are currently on-orbit, with three more arriving soon to expand science capabilities. Through the first five expeditions, 60 unique NASA-managed investigations from 11 nations have been supported, many continuing into later missions. More than 90,000 experiment hours have been completed, and more than 1,000 hours of crew time have been dedicated to research, numbers that grow daily. The multidisciplinary program includes research in life sciences, physical sciences, biotechnology, Earth sciences, technology demonstrations as well as commercial endeavors and educational activities. The Payload Operations and Integration Center monitors the onboard activities around the clock, working with numerous Principal Investigators and Payload Developers at their remote sites. Future years will see expansion of the station with research modules provided by the European Space Agency and Japan, which will be outfitted with additional research racks. The first research payloads arrived at ISS more than two years ago, and continuous science has been ongoing for more than one and a half years. During this time, the research capabilities have been tremendously increased, even as assembly of the overall platform continues. Despite significant challenges along the way, ISS continues to successfully support a large number of investigations in a variety of research disciplines. The results of some of the early investigations are reaching the publication stage. The near future looms with new challenges, but experience to date and dedicated efforts give reason to be optimistic that the challenges will be overcome and that new and greater successes will be added to past ones.

Roe, Lesa B.↗

NASA NTRS1983

VAS applications at Colorado State University

The application of the VAS program is outlined. The initial assessments of VAS radiometer and satellite performance were satisfactory; and VAS operations were smoothly carried out by the NESS SOCC and associated processing and retransmission facilities. The availability of advanced image processing systems, previous studies with the geosynchronous European Space Agency Meteorological Satellite (Meteosat), and the polar orbiter multichannel radiance data enabled the progress of the application. The VAS data are implemented as these data are received in the real time VISSR mode, and as dwell sounding (DS) and multispectral imaging (MSI) radiances on magnetic tapes.

Kruidenier, M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

EnviroNET: An online environmental interactions resource

EnviroNET is a centralized depository for technical information on environmentally induced interactions likely to be encountered by spacecraft in both low-altitude and high-altitude orbits. It provides a user-friendly, menu-driven format on networks that are connected globally and is available 24 hours a day - every day. The service pools space data collected over the years by NASA, USAF, other government research facilities, industry, universities, and the European Space Agency. This information contains text, tables and over one hundred high resolution figures and graphs based on empirical data. These graphics can be accessed while still in the chapters, making it easy to flip from text to graphics and back. Interactive graphics programs are also available on space debris, the neutral atmosphere, magnetic field, and ionosphere. EnviroNET can help designers meet tough environmental flight criteria before committing to flight hardware built for experiments, instrumentation, or payloads.

Lauriente, Michael↗

NASA NTRS1992

The 30th AAS Goddard Memorial Symposium. World space programs and fiscal reality: Synopsis

A full proceedings of the symposium will be issued later in the year. This synopsis consists of summations of three sessions by appointed rapporteurs. International figures in space and in politics spoke at the sessions. Themes of international cooperation and fiscal reality pervaded the conference. International speakers from Canada, the European Space Agency, Russia, Japan and China and other countries addressed the topic of the symposium. American representation included Senator Barbara Mikulski, former NASA administrator James Beggs and other speakers.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1992

ESA's planning and coordination of the OLYMPUS propagation experiment

An overview of the organization of the OLYMPUS propagation experimenters group (OPEX) is given. Preparations, participation, and experiments are described. Some examples for first statistical results are also reported. OLYMPUS, a 3-axis stabilized communications satellite was launched in 1989 for providing experimental telecommunications payloads and a propagation beacon payload at 12, 20, and 30 GHz to the European Space Agency. From previous experience (OTS), the Agency undertook to carry out extensive preparations with an eye on obtaining the statistical results needed within the limited available lifetime of the spacecraft. The OLYMPUS propagation experiment was conceived as part of ESA's space telecommunications applications program (ESA/IPC/(79)83) with the emphasis on exploring the possibilities and limitations of Ka-band satellite communications. The objectives of the OLYMPUS propagation campaign were: (1) characterization of the slant-path propagation conditions at 20/30 GHz in the various climatic regions of Europe; (2) improvement of the understanding of the link between atmospheric observable (rain rate, cloud thickness, etc.) to propagation impairments such as attenuation, depolarization, scintillation, etc.; and (3) arrive at improved propagation prediction methods.

Arbesser-Rastburg, B.↗

NASA NTRS2009

The James Webb Space Telescope: Mission Overview and Status

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the infrared successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. It is a cryogenic infrared space observatory with a 25 sq. m aperture (6 m telescope yielding diffraction limited angular resolution at a wavelength of 2 micron. The science instrument payload includes three passively cooled near-infrared instruments providing broad- and narrow-band imagery, coronagraphy, as well as multi object and integral-field spectroscopy over the 0.6 < 0 < 5.0 micron spectrum. An actively cooled mid-infrared instrument provides broad-band imagery, coronagraphy, and integral-field spectroscopy over the 5.0 < 0 < 29 micron spectrum. The JWST is being developed by NASA, in partnership with the European and Canadian Space Agencies, as a general user facility with science observations to be proposed by the international astronomical community in a manner similar to the Hubble Space Telescope. Technology development and mission design are complete, and construction is underway in all areas of the program. The JWST is on schedule to reach launch readiness during 2014.

Greenhouse, Matthew A.↗

NASA NTRS2011

The James Webb Space Telescope: Mission Overview and Status

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the Infrared successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. It is a cryogenic infrared space observatory with a 25 sq m aperture (6 m class) telescope yielding diffraction limited angular resolution at a wave1ength of 2 micron. The science instrument payload includes three passively cooled near-infrared instruments providing broad- and narrow-band imagery, coronagraphy, as well as multi-object and integral-field spectroscopy over the 0.6 <lambda < 5.0 micron spectrum. An actively cooled mid-infrared instrument provides broad-band imagery, coronagraphy, and integral-field spectroscopy over the 5.0 < lambda < 29 micron spectrum. The JWST is being developed by NASA, in partnership with the European and Canadian Space Agencies, as a general user facility with science observations to be proposed by the international astronomical community in a manner similar to the Hubble Space Telescope. Technology development and mission design are complete, and construction is underway in all areas of the program.

Greenhouse, Matthew A.↗

NASA NTRS2021

Orion Meteoroid and Debris Analysis with a Single Kevlar® Layer Enhancement to the Propulsion Tank Multi-Layer Insulation: Comparison of the Observed Data and the Adjusted Ballistic Models

In a continual mass optimization effort for the Orion vehicle by NASA and its prime contractor Lockheed Martin Space, along with the European Space Agency (ESA) and its contractors Airbus and Thales Alenia Space-Italy (TAS-I), a series of shield characterization shots have been performed to quantify the ballistic enhancement of a single-layer of Kevlar® in multi-layer insulation (MLI). This enhanced MLI is part of Orion’s propulsion subsystem, and it is planned to replace a double-layer Kevlar® configuration starting at the Artemis IV mission. This effort has included fifty-two shield characterization shots for five different shield configurations over the four Orion propellant storage vessels. These storage vessels are located in the European Service Module (ESM). This shield characterization has been managed by the Hypervelocity Impact Technology (HVIT) group in NASA Astromaterials Research and Exploration Sciences at Johnson Space Center (JSC) for the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) and the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) program office in coordination with Lockheed Martin Space and Thales Alenia Space-Italy (TAS-I). The shield characterization has used the two-stage, light-gas-gun at the Remote Hypervelocity Test Laboratory (RHTL) of NASA JSC White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) for acceleration of projectiles to representative orbital impact speeds. From this shield characterization effort, a revised ballistic limiting equation (BLE) has been developed for each of the five representative shielding configurations of the ESM pressure vessels. This document provides a brief description of the shield configurations considered for the Orion program and the shield characterization findings. These results are compared to the assumed BLE for each configuration going into the Artemis missions that utilize this version of ballistic enhanced MLI. The models are integrated into a fourteen day High Lunar Orbit (HLO) mission as a representative reliability prediction impact for Orion, and it has been found that the predicted risk of a loss-of-crew (LOC) event is actually a little less than half of the assumed value that launched this design modification opportunity.

Joshua E Miller↗

NASA NTRS1992

Deep-space navigation applications of improved ground-based optical astrometry

Improvements in ground-based optical astrometry will eventually be required for navigation of interplanetary spacecraft when these spacecraft communicate at optical wavelengths. Although such spacecraft may be some years off, preliminary versions of the astrometric technology can also be used to obtain navigational improvements for the Galileo and Cassini missions. This article describes a technology-development and observational program to accomplish this, including a cooperative effort with U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station. For Galileo, Earth-based astrometry of Jupiter's Galilean satellites may improve their ephemeris accuracy by a factor of 3 to 6. This would reduce the requirements for onboard optical navigation pictures, so that more of the data transmission capability (currently limited by high-gain antenna deployment problems) can be used for science data. Also, observations of European Space Agency (ESA) Hipparcos stars with asteroid 243 Ida may provide significantly improved navigation accuracy for a planned August 1993 Galileo spacecraft encounter.

Null, G. W.↗

NASA NTRS2019

The Space Debris Sensor Experiment

The Space Debris Sensor (SDS) is a NASA Class 1E technology demonstration external payload aboard the International Space Station (ISS). With approximately one square meter of detection area, the SDS is attached to the European Space Agency Columbus module facing the ISS velocity vector with minimal obstruction from ISS hardware. The SDS is the first flight demonstration of the Debris Resistive/Acoustic Grid Orbital NASA-Navy Sensor (DRAGONS) technology developed and matured over 10 years by the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO), in concert with the DRAGONS consortium, to provide information on the sub-millimeter scale orbital debris environment. The SDS demonstrated the capacity to read 4 resistive grids at 1 Hz, 40 acoustic sensors at 500 kHz, and record and downlink impact data to the ground. Observable and derived data from the SDS could provide information to models that are critical to understanding risks the small debris environment poses to spacecraft in low Earth orbit. The technology demonstrated by the SDS is a major step forward in monitoring and characterizing the space debris environment. This paper will address the technical performance of the SDS during its operational lifetime and its realization of technical and scientific goals. The SDS was intended to operate for 3 years; however, the payload incurred multiple anomalies during its operational life. Subsequently termed “Anomaly #1,” the first was the symptomatic loss of low data rate 1553 channel command and telemetry. The second, Anomaly #2, was loss of all low- and medium-data rate (Ethernet) telemetry. Anomaly #2 proved to be unrecoverable, leading to loss of the payload after approximately 26 days on-board the ISS. Therefore, this paper also addresses the anomalies that occurred during operation of the SDS, their attribution, and their resolution. Lessons learned are described when relevant to anomaly identification, attribution, and resolution.

Anz-Meador, P.↗

NASA NTRS2019

The James Webb Space Telescope: Mission Overview and Status

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the scientific successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. It is a cryogenic infrared space observatory with a 25 m2 aperture (6 m class) telescope that will achieve diffraction limited angular resolution at a wavelength of 2 um. The science instrument payload includes four passively cooled near-infrared instruments providing broad- and narrow-band imagery, coronography, as well as multi-object and integral-field spectroscopy over the 0.6 < λ < 5.0 µm spectrum. An actively cooled mid-infrared instrument provides broad-band imagery, coronography, and integral-field spectroscopy over the 5.0 < λ < 29 µm spectrum. The JWST is being developed by NASA, in partnership with the European and Canadian Space Agencies, as a general user facility with science observations proposed by the international astronomical community in a manner similar to the Hubble Space Telescope. Technology development and mission design are complete. Construction, integration and verification testing is underway in all areas of the program. The JWST is on schedule for launch during 2021.

Greenhouse, Matthew↗