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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 451 records · Page 25

Pyroscopegridding: Geo-Leo Aerosol Data Fusion (an Open-Source Package)

The retrieval of aerosol optical depths (AODs) from sun-synchronous polar orbiting satellites, such as MODISs, VIIRSs, OMI, TROPOMI, etc., has been widely adopted as a method for obtaining information regarding particulate matter (PM) and related atmospheric processes. However, the advent of recently launched geostationary satellites, such as GOES-16/17/18, Himawari-8/9, and Meteosat Third Generation (MTG), has led to an increased temporal resolution of AOD observations (order of 10 minutes), resulting in typically one or more images per hour during daylight hours, compared to the once-per-day observations obtained from LEO satellites. By integrating these observations, the diurnal cycle of global AOD can be characterized at local, regional, and global scales. The scientific community is still examining the novel data from geostationary satellite observations and evaluating methods for effectively merging these observations with differing spatial and temporal resolutions. This presents a significant ""Big Data"" challenge, encompassing not only data storage, but also data discoverability, accessibility, and migration within cloud computing environments. This study presents our attempts at fusing Level 2 aerosol data from six satellites, three of which are geostationary (GOES-16/17 and Himawari-8) and three of which are polar orbiting (TERRA/MODIS, AQUA/MODIS, and SNPP-VIIRS), using the Dark Target aerosol retrieval algorithm. The ability to fuse remote sensing products on demand into desired temporal and spatial domains empowers researchers and practitioners to more efficiently work with satellite and sensor data. It is our hope that through making our open-source package and accompanying functionality available, the scientific community will have improved access to aerosol data processing resources.

Jennifer Wei↗

Definition of multipath/RFI experiments for orbital testing with a small applications technology satellite

An investigation was made to define experiments for collection of RFI and multipath data for application to a synchronous relay satellite/low orbiting satellite configuration. A survey of analytical models of the multipath signal was conducted. Data has been gathered concerning the existing RFI and other noise sources in various bands at VHF and UHF. Additionally, designs are presented for equipment to combat the effects of RFI and multipath: an adaptive delta mod voice system, a forward error control coder/decoder, a PN transmission system, and a wideband FM system. The performance of these systems was then evaluated. Techniques are discussed for measuring multipath and RFI. Finally, recommended data collection experiments are presented. An extensive tabulation is included of theoretical predictions of the amount of signal reflected from a rough, spherical earth.

Birch, J. N.↗

Micropulsations in the morning sector. II - Satellite observations of 10to 45-s waves at synchronous orbit, ATS 1

A study of 13 wave events having 10- to 45-s periods and observed by ATS 1 in the morning sector reveals that these events, which have been called band-limited pulsations and are thought to be related to Pi 1, appear actually to be Pc 3. Digital power-spectral and coherency analysis was used to determine the characteristics of the wave activity. The average peak frequency of the events (about 0.04 Hz) and their generally narrow-band nature correspond closely with the characteristics of Pc 3. The local-time distribution of the events (peaking at 0900 LT) and their less than complete association with substorms also correspond more closely with Pc 3 characteristics. The orientation of the major axis of the polarization ellipse for these events was predominantly azimuthal, which agrees more closely with the east-west polarization of Pi 1 observed on the ground. However, some examples of radial orientation were observed in the satellite data.

Arthur, C. W.↗

Parallel integrated frame synchronizer chip

A parallel integrated frame synchronizer which implements a sequential pipeline process wherein serial data in the form of telemetry data or weather satellite data enters the synchronizer by means of a front-end subsystem and passes to a parallel correlator subsystem or a weather satellite data processing subsystem. When in a CCSDS mode, data from the parallel correlator subsystem passes through a window subsystem, then to a data alignment subsystem and then to a bit transition density (BTD)/cyclical redundancy check (CRC) decoding subsystem. Data from the BTD/CRC decoding subsystem or data from the weather satellite data processing subsystem is then fed to an output subsystem where it is output from a data output port.

Ghuman, Parminder Singh↗

A review of satellite time-transfer technology: Accomplishments and future applications

The research accomplishments by NASA in meeting the needs of the space program for precise time in satellite tracking are presented. As a major user of precise time signals for clock synchronization of NASA's worldwide satellite tracking networks, the agency provides much of the necessary impetus for the development of stable frequency sources and time synchronization technology. The precision time required for both satellite tracking and space science experiments has increased at a rate of about one order of magnitude per decade from 1 millisecond in the 1950's to 100 microseconds during the Apollo era in the 1960's to 10 microseconds in the 1970's. For the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System, satellite timing requirements will be extended to 1 microsecond and below. These requirements are needed for spacecraft autonomy and data packeting.

Cooper, R. S.↗

Satellite Time- and Frequency-Transfer System

Time synchronized at distant points within nanosecond. Report describes satellite-borne time-and frequency-transfer system proposed for synchronization of clocks at stations around Earth. Orbiting hydrogen-maser clock and frequency standard communicate by microwave links with Earth stations using hydrogen masers as local clocks. Pulsed-laser time-transfer sub-system also operated concurrently, either synchronized or unsynchronized with microwave subsystems.

Vessot, R. F. C.↗

A steady-state Kalman filter for assimilating data from a single polar orbiting satellite

A steady-state scheme for data assimilation in the context of a single, short period (relative to a day), sun-synchronous, polar-orbiting satellite is examined. If the satellite takes observations continuously, the gains, which are the weights for blending observations and predictions together, are steady in time. For a linear system forced by random noise, the optimal steady-state gains (Wiener gains) are equivalent to those of a Kalman filter. Computing the Kalman gains increases the computational cost of the model by a large factor, but computing the Wiener gains does not. The latter are computed by iteration using prior estimates of the gains to assimilate simulated observations of one run of the model, termed 'truth' into another run termed 'prediction'. At each stage, the prediction errors form the basis for the next estimate of the gains. Steady state is achieved after three or four iterations. Further simplification is achieved by making the gains depend on longitudinal distance from the observation point, not on absolute longitude. For a single-layer primitive equation model, the scheme works well even if only the mass field is observed but not the velocity field. Although the scheme was developed for Mars Observer, it should be applicable to data retrieved from Earth atmosphere satellites, for example, UARS.

Banfield, Don↗

A review of satellite time transfer technology - Accomplishments and future applications

A brief review of the research accomplishments by NASA in meeting the needs of the space program for precise time in satellite tracking is presented. As a major user of precise time signals for clock synchronization of NASA's worldwide satellite tracking networks, the agency provided much of the necessary impetus for the development of stable frequency sources and time synchronization technology. The precision in time required for both satellite tracking and space science experiments has increased at a rate of about 1 order of magnitude per decade from 1 ms in the 1950's to 100 microsec during the Apollo era in the 1960's to 10 microsec in the 1970's. In the 1980's, when the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) comes into operation, satellite timing requirements will be extended to 1 microsec and below. These requirements are needed for spacecraft autonomy and data packeting which are now in active planning stages.

Cooper, R. S.↗

Relativistic electron flux comparisons at low and high altitudes with fast time resolution and broad spatial coverage

Analyses are presented for the first high-time resolution multisatellite study of the spatial and temporal characteristics of a relativistic electron enhancement event with a rapid onset. Measurements of MeV electrons were made from two low-altitude polar orbiting satellites and three spacecraft at synchronous altitude. The electron fluxes observed by the low-altitude satellites include precipitating electrons in both the bounce and drift loss cones as well as electrons that are stably trapped, whereas the observations at geosynchronous altitude are dominated by the trapped population. The fluxes of greater than 1 MeV electrons at low-satellite altitude over a wide range of L shells tracked very well the fluxes greater than 0.93 MeV at synchronous altitude.

Imhof, W. L.↗

Results from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE)

The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) has been observing the earth during the past 4 years from three satellites. Numerous validation procedures have been applied to the data. Particularly important have been intercomparisons between three channels of scanning radiometers and wide and medium field-of-view radiometers. These intercomparisons and onboard calibration targets have provided assurance of high data quality. In addition to the classic radiation budget parameters: global absorbed and emitted energy, ERBE is producing fluxes on scales of 250 km that can significantly increase understanding of the earth's climate. Of particular interest are ERBE measurements of clear-sky albedos and longwave fluxes, which are part of the ERBE data products. Use of data from the precessing ERBE satellite together with data from the sun-synchronous NOAA-9 and NOAA-10 satellites also provides information on the diurnal cycle of shortwave and longwave fluxes.

Barkstrom, Bruce R.↗

A burst compression and expansion technique for variable-rate users in satellite-switched TDMA networks

A burst compression and expansion technique is described for asynchronously interconnecting variable-data-rate users with cost-efficient ground terminals in a satellite-switched, time-division-multiple-access (SS/TDMA) network. Compression and expansion buffers in each ground terminal convert between lower rate, asynchronous, continuous-user data streams and higher-rate TDMA bursts synchronized with the satellite-switched timing. The technique described uses a first-in, first-out (FIFO) memory approach which enables the use of inexpensive clock sources by both the users and the ground terminals and obviates the need for elaborate user clock synchronization processes. A continous range of data rates from kilobits per second to that approaching the modulator burst rate (hundreds of megabits per second) can be accommodated. The technique was developed for use in the NASA Lewis Research Center System Integration, Test, and Evaluation (SITE) facility. Some key features of the technique have also been implemented in the gound terminals developed at NASA Lewis for use in on-orbit evaluation of the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) high burst rate (HBR) system.

Budinger, James M.↗

A burst compression and expansion technique for variable-rate users in satellite-switched TDMA networks

A burst compression and expansion technique is described for asynchronously interconnecting variable-data-rate users with cost-efficient ground terminals in a satellite-switched, time-division-multiple-access (SS/TDMA) network. Compression and expansion buffers in each ground terminal convert between lower rate, asynchronous, continuous-user data streams and higher-rate TDMA bursts synchronized with the satellite-switched timing. The technique described uses a first-in, first-out (FIFO) memory approach which enables the use of inexpensive clock sources by both the users and the ground terminals and obviates the need for elaborate user clock synchronization processes. A continuous range of data rates from kilobits per second to that approaching the modulator burst rate (hundreds of megabits per second) can be accommodated. The technique was developed for use in the NASA Lewis Research Center System Integration, Test, and Evaluation (SITE) facility. Some key features of the technique have also been implemented in the ground terminals developed at NASA Lewis for use in on-orbit evaluation of the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) high burst rate (HBR) system.

Budinger, James M.↗

Earth observing system (Eos) requirements for a polar platform

This paper describes the requirements that the polar platform will have to meet if it is to satisfy the needs of the scientific earth observation communities in the early 1990s. The Eos is a prime mission for the polar platform. The polar platform will be a large satellite in a sun synchronous orbit that could be built up from the same components that are to be used to build the Space Station and its co-orbiting freeflying satellite. It will be serviced from the Shuttle so that it will be kept in operation and up-to-date for at least a decade. An initial set of scientific requirements has been documented by a Science and Missions Requirements Working Group (S&MRWG). These scientific requirements have been translated into derived technical requirements for the polar platform. These derived requirements are presented.

Muller, R. M.↗

A satellite mobile communication system based on Band-Limited Quasi-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (BLQS-CDMA)

Discussed here is a new approach to code division multiple access applied to a mobile system for voice (and data) services based on Band Limited Quasi Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (BLQS-CDMA). The system requires users to be chip synchronized to reduce the contribution of self-interference and to make use of voice activation in order to increase the satellite power efficiency. In order to achieve spectral efficiency, Nyquist chip pulse shaping is used with no detection performance impairment. The synchronization problems are solved in the forward link by distributing a master code, whereas carrier forced activation and closed loop control techniques have been adopted in the return link. System performance sensitivity to nonlinear amplification and timing/frequency synchronization errors are analyzed.

Degaudenzi, R.↗

Implementation of Satellite Formation Flight Algorithms Using SPHERES Aboard the International Space Station

The MIT's Space Systems Laboratory developed the Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) as a risk-tolerant spaceborne facility to develop and mature control, estimation, and autonomy algorithms for distributed satellite systems for applications such as satellite formation flight. Tests performed study interferometric mission-type formation flight maneuvers in deep space. These tests consist of having the satellites trace a coordinated trajectory under tight control that would allow simulated apertures to constructively interfere observed light and measure the resulting increase in angular resolution. This paper focuses on formation initialization (establishment of a formation using limited field of view relative sensors), formation coordination (synchronization of the different satellite s motion) and fuel-balancing among the different satellites.

Mandy, Christophe P.↗

Open Source Application of Fusing Aerosol Products from GEO and LEO Satellites

Retrieving aerosol optical depths (AODs) from sun-synchronous polar orbiting (aka low earth orbit, LEO) satellites, such as MODISs, and VIIRSs, OMI, TROPOMI, etc, has become well-established as a tool for extracting information on particulate matter (PM) and related processes in the atmosphere. However, with recently launched geostationary satellites (GEO), such as GOES-16/17/18, and Himawari-8/9, and Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) they provide a much higher temporal resolution (order of 10 minutes), typically an image once or more per hour during daylight compared to LEO once per day. By combining these observations, we may be able to characterize the diurnal cycle of global AOD at the local, regional and global scale. While the science community is still exploring the new data from GEO observations, we have been thinking about how to properly combine/merge/fuse those data considering differences in their spatial and temporal resolutions. However, this poses a “Big Data” challenge. The big data challenge is not just about data storage, but also about data discoverability, and accessibility, and even more, about data migration/mirroring in the cloud-computing environment. This paper is merely showing some of the efforts and approaches we have attempted in fusing six satellites’ Level 2 aerosol data (three are from GEO (GOES-16/17 and Himawari-8), and the other three are from LEO (TERRA/MODIS, AQUA/MODIS, SNPP-VIIRS) from Dark Target (DT) aerosol retrieval algorithm. Having the on-demand capability of fusing remote sensing products onto the desired temporal and spatial domain enables researchers and application practitioners to better manipulate and work with satellite and sensor data. It is our hopeWe hope that by making such an open-source package, and the accompanying functionality, the scientific community will be granted easier access to aerosol data processing resources. The MEaSUREs Program (Making Earth System Data Records for Use in Research Environments) expands our understanding of the Earth's current system through atmospheric and surface measurements. In an effort to aid the scientific research component and improve open source methods, this project developed Python code for fusing six satellite Level 2 aerosol data (three are from geostationary satellites (GEO), and the other three are from low earth orbital satellites (LEO)) from Dark Target Aerosol Retrieval Algorithm.

Jennifer Wei↗