StratoSat™ Platforms for Earth Science Applications

Presentation at

IGARSS 2002: Earth Science Vision Special Session

25 June 2002

by

Matthew Kuperus Heun (GAC)Co-authors

Alexey Pankine, Kim Aaron, Kerry Nock (GAC)Warren Wiscombe (NASA/GSFC)

Bob Mahan (Va Tech)Wenying Su (NASA/LaRC)

Global Aerospace

Corporation

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 2 MKH–25 June 2002

Global Aerospace

Corporation

Topics

• StratoSat™ Platform

• Science Applications

• Simulations of StratoSat™ Constellations

• Summary

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 3 MKH–25 June 2002

Global Aerospace

Corporation

STRATOSAT™ PLATFORM

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 4 MKH–25 June 2002

Global Aerospace

CorporationSTRATOSAT™ PLATFORM

SCHEMATICStratoSat™ Flight System

SystemElements

Gondola

StratoSail¨TCS

SciencePod

35 km Altitude

Dropsonde

Balloon

20 km Altitude

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 5 MKH–25 June 2002

Global Aerospace

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Advanced Ultra Long Duration Balloon (ULDB) as being Developed by NASA–“Pumpkin” design (const. alt.)–Advanced polyethylene film–Zylon® load tendons

Advanced Ultra Long Duration Balloon (ULDB) as being Developed by NASA–“Pumpkin” design (const. alt.)–Advanced polyethylene film–Zylon® load tendons

STRATOSAT™ BALLOON DESIGNSTRATOSAT™ BALLOON DESIGN

NASA ULDBHangar TestsNASA ULDBHangar Tests

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 6 MKH–25 June 2002

Global Aerospace

Corporation Successful June 2000Sub-scale ULDB Test

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 7 MKH–25 June 2002

Global Aerospace

Corporation STRATOSAIL® TCS FEATURES

Passively exploits natural wind conditions

Operates day and night Wide range of control

directions Lightweight, <100 kg No consumables Very low power

Relative Wind at Wing

Lateral ForceComponent

Drag ForceComponent

ResultantForce

TCSWingAngle of Attack

Radio-Controlled Dynamically-scaled Model (1:4) Tested in Natural Winds Suspended From Tethered Blimp,

April 2001

STRATOSAIL® TCS ROLL OUTMarch 16, 2002

STRATOSAIL® TCS ROLL OUTMarch 16, 2002

Wing AssemblyWing Assembly

Winch TestbedWinch Testbed

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 9 MKH–25 June 2002

Global Aerospace

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SCIENCE APPLICATIONS

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 10 MKH–25 June 2002

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Corporation VECTOR MAGNETIC FIELD

• ESE QuestionWhat are the motions of the Earth’s interior?

• MeasurementMagnetic field gradient

• Advantages– Cover oceans and

remote areas

– Increased range

– Eliminate ionospheric noise

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 11 MKH–25 June 2002

Global Aerospace

Corporation

RADIATIVE FLUXES AT TOA

• ESE QuestionWhat trends in solar radiation are driving global climate?

• MeasurementRadiative fluxes at TOA

• AdvantagesNo radiance-to-flux conversion

Obtain “ground truth”

Observe ERB dynamics

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 12 MKH–25 June 2002

Global Aerospace

Corporation ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY• ESE Question

How is stratospheric ozone changing?

• MeasurementsRemote and in-situ measurements of vertical profiles of temperature, pressure, ozone, water vapor, and tracer elements

• AdvantagesNo other known method can characterize “trop-strat” exchange and tropical pipe boundaries

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 13 MKH–25 June 2002

Global Aerospace

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SIMULATIONS OFSTRATOSAT™ CONSTELLATIONS

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 14 MKH–25 June 2002

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Corporation IMPORTANCE OF CONSTELLATIONS

• Multiple platforms provide unprecedented observing opportunities– Coordinated measurements– Adaptive observing capabilities– Global coverage at TOA

• Reduce unit cost of individual platforms

• Expand thinking about stratospheric in-situ observations

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 15 MKH–25 June 2002

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HEMISPHERIC CONSTELLATION

LegendRed = balloon positionYellow = 2° elevation angle view zoneGreen = zone overlap

• 383 platforms (35 km)• StratoSail® TCS (20 km)• Control

– “Flock of Birds”

– 15° to pole

– Maintain uniform coverage

• 1 year• 173,000x real time• UKMO data

A simulation movie wasincluded here with the original

presentation.

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 16 MKH–25 June 2002

Global Aerospace

Corporation ADAPTIVE CONSTELLATION

• 100 platforms (35 km)• StratoSail® TCS (20 km)• 4 Targets

(Natural Disasters)• Control

– “Flock of Birds”– ±20° latitude – Maintain Latitude– Overfly target

• 1 year • 350,000x real time• UKMO data Legend

Red = balloon positionYellow = 2° elevation angle view zoneGreen = zone overlap

A simulation movie wasincluded here with the original

presentation.

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 17 MKH–25 June 2002

Global Aerospace

Corporation

SUMMARY• NASA’s ESE would benefit tremendously from long-

duration, autonomously coordinated, in-situ measurements in the stratosphere

• StratoSat™ platforms can contribute to Earth science vision

• Development of platform architecture could revolutionize Earth science by answering fundamental questions about– Atmospheric chemistry

– Earth radiation balance

– Geomagnetism

Stratospheric Satellites for Earth Science Applications

GAC/NASA/VaTech 18 MKH–25 June 2002

Global Aerospace

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