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The Earth Exploration Satellites operating in the 8025-8400 MHz band can have strong adjacent band emissions in the 8400-8450 MHz band which is allocated for Space Research.
Work performed on spectral analysis of data from the C-band radars tracking GEOS-2 and on the development of a data compaction method for the GEOS-2 C-band radar data is described. The purposes of the spectral analysis study were to determine the optimum data recording and sampling rates for C-band radar data and to determine the optimum method of filtering and smoothing the data. The optimum data recording and sampling rate is defined as the rate which includes an optimum compromise between serial correlation and the effects of frequency folding. The goal in development of a data compaction method was to reduce to a minimum the amount of data stored, while maintaining all of the statistical information content of the non-compacted data. A digital computer program for computing estimates of the power spectral density function of sampled data was used to perform the spectral analysis study.
The material presented covers the general topic of C-band radars and their use throughout the GEOS-2 C-band Radar System Project and has direct application to the general problem of gathering accurate radar tracking data. The material is hardware oriented and all analyses and evaluations described pertain to the gathering of accurate data rather than to the application of the gathered data. The radar oriented investigations formed a basic and necessary part of the overall C-band experiment. The successful completion of these efforts led to the definition of how the radars were to be operated and calibrated. These hardware decisions directly affected the quality of the radar data and therefore played a large part in the successful application of these data to geodetic research.
A large number of low-resolution quantitative spectra were obtained for a band-model analysis of 21.8-micrometer bands. The experimental investigations were conducted with pure nitric-acid vapor at 40 C, taking into account pressures in the range from a few torr to a pressure which is close to the saturation pressure. It is pointed out that the obtained data, in addition to those from the 11.3-micrometer band, can be used for an independent determination of the nitric acid vertical distribution in the stratosphere.
Spatially resolved measurements of Saturn's absolute reflectivity in methane bands at 6190, 7250, and 8900 A and in nearby continuum regions are presented. Images were obtained through narrow-band interference filters with a 500 x 500-pixel charge-coupled device. Band/continuum ratios were measured to high accuracy by referencing to the ring brightness in each image. Several data processing techniques enhanced the quality of the observations. These are the use of the ring symmetry to find center position and orientation, accurate subtraction of ring light, and constrained image deconvolution. Uncertainty in the continuum absolute reflectivity is within 10%. Uncertainties in band/continuum ratios are from one to several percent. The Equatorial Zone was much brighter than any other latitude in the strong 8900 band image. Northern midlatitudes were brighter than southern midlatitudes. The latter observation indicates fewer high-altitude aerosols in the south, a possible result of atmospheric dynamics or seasonal sublimation of NH3 crystals. The data are tabulated and presented in a form suitable for quantitative scattering model analyses.
The HO2 radicals generated in a discharge-flow system were observed with tunable diode laser absorption in the P-branch of the nu(3) vibrationall band at 1080/cm. The observed line positions agree with those calculated from the molecular constants for the nu(3) bland obtained from a previous study using laser magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The band strength was determined by observing line center absoptions when HO2 is produced in the reaction F + H2O2 yields HO2 + HF (k1) with a measured concentration of atomic fluorine and excess hydrogen peroxide. F-atom concentrations are measured by diode laser absorption of the spin-orbit transition at 404/cm. The analysis accounts for HO2 losses due to the reactions of HO2 + HO2 yields H2O2 + O2 (k3) and F + HO2 yields HF + O2 (k4). The line strength for the 6(15) 7(16) F(1) transition is 2.9 x 10 to the 21st power sq cm/molecule/cm which corresponds to a nu(3) band strength of 34 +/- 9 sq/cm(STP atm). This value is a factor of 6 lower than previous ab initio calculations. These results will be useful in assessing the feasibility of atmospheric measurements of HO2 using infrared absorption techniques.
Techniques for extrapolating Earth-based spectral band measurements of directly transmitted solar irradiance to equivalent exoatmospheric signal levels were used to aid in determining system gain settings of the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) sunsensor system being developed for the NASA Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite and for the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas (SAGE) 2 instrument on the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite. A band transmittance approach was employed for the HALOE sunsensor which has a broad-band channel determined by the spectral responsivity of a silicon detector. A modified Langley plot approach, assuming a square-root law behavior for the water vapor transmittance, was used for the SAGE-2 940 nm water vapor channel.
Spectroscopy of the starlike optical counterpart to IRAS 21282+5050, a source with the hydrocarbon infrared emission band spectrum, shows an 07(f)-(WC11) planetary nebula nucleus suffering an extinction of 5.7 mag. Emission line widths in the WC spectrum are only approx. 100 km/s, indicating a very slow stellar wind. Optical diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) are prominent. Five DIBs are strongly enhanced, namely lamda lamda 5797, 6196, 6203, 6283, and 6613. The presence of circumstellar hydrocarbon molecules may explain both the infrared emission bands and the enhanced DIBs.
Cross sections of O2 at 79 K have been obtained from photoabsorption measurements at various pressures throughout the wavelength region 179.3-198.0 nm with a 6.65-m photoelectric scanning spectrometer equipped with a 2400-lines/mm grating and having an instrumental width (FWHM) of 0.0013 nm. The measured absorption cross sections of the Schumann-Runge bands (12,0) through (2,0) are independent of the instrumental width. The measured cross-sections are presented graphically here and are available at wavenumber intervals of about 0.1/cm as numerical compilations stored on magnetic tape from the National Space Science Data Center, NASA/Goddard. Band oscillator strengths of these bands have been determined by direct numerical integration of the measured cross sections.
Spectroscopy of the starlike optical counterpart to IRAS 21282+5050, a source with the 'hydrocarbon' IR emission band spectrum, shows an O7(f)-(WC 11) planetary nebula nucleus suffering an extinction of 5.7 mag. Emission-line widths in the WC spectrum are only about 100 km/s, indicating a very slow stellar wind. Optical diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) are prominent, and five DIBs are strongly enhanced. The presence of circumstellar hydrocarbon molecules may explain both the IR emission bands and the enhanced DIBs.
Techniques for extrapolating earth-based spectral band measurements of directly transmitted solar irradiance to equivalent exoatmospheric signal levels were used to aid in determining system gain settings of the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) sunsensor being developed for the NASA Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite and for the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas (SAGE) 2 instrument on the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite. A band transmittance approach was employed for the HALOE sunsensor which has a broad-band channel determined by the spectral responsivity of a silicon detector. A modified Langley plot approach, assuming a square-root law behavior for the water vapor transmittance, was used for the SAGE-2 940 nm water vapor channel.
Correlation analyses of Landsat TM data for arid areas and laboratory spectral data for various combinations of minerals indicate that band combination 1-4-7 maximally differentiates lithologic materials in most scenes, but that band combination 1-5-7 is preferable for scenes in which hydroxyl-rich minerals are prominent or of specific interest. Among band ratio combinations, 3/1 - 5/4 - 5/7 ranks high for optimal information display.
We present the results of a very deep K-band survey with a 5 sigma total galaxy magnitude limit of K = 21.9 in the deepest field. A 5 sigma K-band-selected sample of 123 galaxies is presented, together with their optical colors. Only three galaxies in this sample are not detected at the 1 sigma level in Kron-Cousins I band. At K less than or = 20 the reddest (I-K) color is 5.1 +/- 0.4, and 15 of the 123 objects in the deep field sample have (I-K) greater than 4. In the blue, the galaxies show a rapid blueward trend at magnitudes beyond K = 19, dropping from a median (B-K) = 6 at K = 18 to a median (B-K) of only 4.2 at K = 21.5. The surface density of (I-K) greater than 4 objects is interpreted to imply either that there is a significant evolution toward later types in the colors of the normal galaxy population beyond z = 11 or that galaxies have faded by that redshift.
This paper describes measurements which were performed on a sample of radome material in the Electromagnetic Properties Measurements Laboratory (EPML). The purpose of the measurements described in this paper was to determine the one-way transmission loss through the flat panel of radome material for a frequency range of 84 to 94 GHz, for varying incidence angles. The panel, which was manufactured by Norton Performance Plastics Corporation, was provided to the EPML by TRW. The size of the panel is 40 in x 36 in x 0.422 in and consists of a foam material with one side coated with a smooth white coating (this side will be referred to as the front side). The dielectric properties of the foam material from the inside of the panel were also determined at X-band (8.2-12.4 GHz). The W-band free space measurements are presented first, followed by the X-band dielectric properties measurements.
NASA and the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) have an on-going activity to develop remote sensing technologies for the detection and measurement of icing conditions aloft. Radar has been identified as a strong tool for this work. However, since the remote detection of icing conditions with the intent to identify areas of icing hazard is a new and evolving capability, there are no set requirements for radar sensitivity. This work is an initial attempt to quantify, through analysis, the sensitivity requirements for an icing remote sensing radar. The primary radar of interest for cloud measurements is Ka-band, however, since NASA is currently using an X-band unit, this frequency is also examined. Several aspects of radar signal analysis were examined. Cloud reflectivity was calculated for several forms of cloud using two different techniques. The Air Force Geophysical Laboratory (AFGL) cloud models, with different drop spectra represented by a modified gamma distribution, were utilized to examine several categories of cloud formation. Also a fundamental methods approach was used to allow manipulation of the cloud droplet size spectra. And an analytical icing radar simulator was developed to examine the complete radar system response to a configurable multi-layer cloud environment. Also discussed is the NASA vertical pointing X-band radar. The radar and its data system are described, and several summer weather events are reviewed.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space-Based Telemetry and Range Safety study is a multiphase project to increase data rates and flexibility and decrease costs by using space-based communications assets for telemetry during launches and landings. Phase 1 used standard S-band antennas with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System to obtain a baseline performance. The selection process and available resources for Phase 2 resulted in a Ku-band phased array antenna system. Several development efforts are under way for a Ka-band phased array antenna system for Phase 3. Each phase includes test flights to demonstrate performance and capabilities. Successful completion of this project will result in a set of communications requirements for the next generation of launch vehicles.
Since launch, lunar observations have been made regularly by both Terra and Aqua MODIS and used for a number of sensor calibration and characterization related applications, including radiometric stability monitoring, spatial characterization, optical leak and electronic cross-talk characterization, and calibration inter-comparison. MODIS has 36 spectral bands with a total of 490 individual detectors. They are located on four focal plane assemblies (FPA). This paper focuses on the use of MODIS lunar observations to characterize its band-to-band registration (BBR). In addition to BBR, the approach developed by the MODIS Characterization Support Team (MCST) can be used to characterize MODIS detector-to-detector registration (DDR). Long-term BBR results developed from this approach are presented and compared with that derived from a unique on-board calibrator (OBC). Results show that on-orbit changes of BBR have been very small for both Terra and Aqua MODIS and this approach can be applied to other remote sensing instruments.
Tracking errors at S-band and C-band frequencies resulting from diurnal, seasonal, and annual changes in earths atmosphere