The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE): Mission Description and Initial On-orbit Performance

The all sky surveys done by the Palomar Observatory Schmidt, the European Southern Observatory Schmidt, and the United Kingdom Schmidt, the InfraRed Astronomical Satellite and the 2 Micron All Sky Survey have proven to be extremely useful tools for astronomy with value that lasts for decades. The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer is mapping the whole sky following its launch on 14 December 2009. WISE began surveying the sky on 14 Jan 2010 and completed its first full coverage of the sky on July 17. The survey will continue to cover the sky a second time until the cryogen is exhausted (anticipated in November 2010). WISE is achieving 5 sigma point source sensitivities better than 0.08, 0.11, 1 and 6 mJy in unconfused regions on the ecliptic in bands centered at wavelengths of 3.4, 4.6, 12 and 22 microns. Sensitivity improves toward the ecliptic poles due to denser coverage and lower zodiacal background. The angular resolution is 6.1, 6.4, 6.5 and 12.0 arc-seconds at 3.4, 4.6, 12 and 22 microns, and the astrometric precision for high SNR sources is better than 0.15 arc-seconds.Comment: 22 pages with 19 included figures. Updated to better match the accepted version in the A

Report Card grades on the physical activity of children and youth comparing 30 very high Human Development Index countries

Background: To better understand the childhood physical inactivity crisis, Report Cards on physical activity of children and youth were prepared concurrently in 30 very high Human Development Index countries. The aim of this article was to present, describe, and compare the findings from these Report Cards. Methods: The Report Cards were developed using a harmonized process for data gathering, assessing, and assigning grades to 10 common physical activity indicators. Descriptive statistics were calculated after converting letter grades to interval variables, and correlational analyses between the 10 common indicators were performed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Results: A matrix of 300 grades was obtained with substantial variations within and between countries. Low grades were observed for behavioral indicators, and higher grades were observed for sources of influence indicators, indicating a disconnect between supports and desired behaviors. Conclusion: This analysis summarizes the level and context of the physical activity of children and youth among very high Human Development Index countries, and provides additional evidence that the situation regarding physical activity in children and youth is very concerning. Unless a major shift to a more active lifestyle happens soon, a high rate of noncommunicable diseases can be anticipated when this generation of children reaches adulthood.</p

Report Card Grades on the Physical Activity of Children and Youth Comparing 30 Very High Human Development Index Countries

BACKGROUND: To better understand the childhood physical inactivity crisis, Report Cards on physical activity of children and youth were prepared concurrently in 30 very high Human Development Index countries. The aim of this article was to present, describe, and compare the findings from these Report Cards. METHODS: The Report Cards were developed using a harmonized process for data gathering, assessing, and assigning grades to 10 common physical activity indicators. Descriptive statistics were calculated after converting letter grades to interval variables, and correlational analyses between the 10 common indicators were performed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. RESULTS: A matrix of 300 grades was obtained with substantial variations within and between countries. Low grades were observed for behavioral indicators, and higher grades were observed for sources of influence indicators, indicating a disconnect between supports and desired behaviors. CONCLUSION: This analysis summarizes the level and context of the physical activity of children and youth among very high Human Development Index countries, and provides additional evidence that the situation regarding physical activity in children and youth is very concerning. Unless a major shift to a more active lifestyle happens soon, a high rate of noncommunicable diseases can be anticipated when this generation of children reaches adulthood.</p

Global Matrix 3.0 Physical Activity Report Card Grades for Children and Youth: Results and Analysis From 49 Countries

Background: Accumulating sufficient moderate to vigorous physical activity is recognized as a key determinant of physical, physiological, developmental, mental, cognitive, and social health among children and youth (aged 5–17 y). The Global Matrix 3.0 of Report Card grades on physical activity was developed to achieve a better understanding of the global variation in child and youth physical activity and associated supports. Methods: Work groups from 49 countries followed harmonized procedures to develop their Report Cards by grading 10 common indicators using the best available data. The participating countries were divided into 3 categories using the United Nations’ human development index (HDI) classification (low or medium, high, and very high HDI). Results: A total of 490 grades, including 369 letter grades and 121 incomplete grades, were assigned by the 49 work groups. Overall, an average grade of “C-,” “D+,” and “C-” was obtained for the low and medium HDI countries, high HDI countries, and very high HDI countries, respectively. Conclusions: The present study provides rich new evidence showing that the situation regarding the physical activity of children and youth is a concern worldwide. Strategic public investments to implement effective interventions to increase physical activity opportunities are needed

Global Matrix 3.0 Physical Activity Report Card Grades for Children and Youth:Results and Analysis From 49 Countries

BACKGROUND: Accumulating sufficient moderate to vigorous physical activity is recognized as a key determinant of physical, physiological, developmental, mental, cognitive, and social health among children and youth (aged 5-17 y). The Global Matrix 3.0 of Report Card grades on physical activity was developed to achieve a better understanding of the global variation in child and youth physical activity and associated supports. METHODS: Work groups from 49 countries followed harmonized procedures to develop their Report Cards by grading 10 common indicators using the best available data. The participating countries were divided into 3 categories using the United Nations' human development index (HDI) classification (low or medium, high, and very high HDI). RESULTS: A total of 490 grades, including 369 letter grades and 121 incomplete grades, were assigned by the 49 work groups. Overall, an average grade of "C-," "D+," and "C-" was obtained for the low and medium HDI countries, high HDI countries, and very high HDI countries, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides rich new evidence showing that the situation regarding the physical activity of children and youth is a concern worldwide. Strategic public investments to implement effective interventions to increase physical activity opportunities are needed.</p

Atmospheric Waves Experiment (WAVE) Calibration

The Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) is the first dedicated NASA mission to investigate global gravity wave properties in the upper atmosphere and their impacts on the ionosphere-thermosphere-mesosphere (ITM). The AWE Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (AMTM) will fly on the ISS and measure temperature waves in the OH airglow layer. The OH temperature waves are produced by gravity waves that rise from the Troposphere into the Mesosphere and spread out horizontally in the OH airglow layer at ~87km altitude, carrying energy and momentum with them. The temperature waves are observed by measuring the background-subtracted ratio of OH P1(2) and P1(4) emission line radiances. The AWE calibration will be performed at SDL in the large THOR chamber using collimator and extended blackbody sources. The AMTM has a very large 90° field-of-view, and the ground calibration must be performed over this full range, requiring a 2-axis gimbal platform in the THOR chamber. This paper will summarize ISS-specific challenges and ground and on-orbit calibration plans

RBI Ground Calibration and Uncertainties Non-Linearity

The Radiation Budget Instrument (RBI) will continue the record obtained by the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments of the total outgoing radiation emitted and reflected by the Earth. To obtain this record, RBI will view the Earth in three bands, a total band covering 0.2 to 100 microns, a short band from 0.2 to 5 microns and a long band from 5 to 100 microns. Data will be collected mainly in a whiskbroom mode at a sample rate of 100 Hz and 1.6x2.6 degree field of view from low Earth orbit. RBI is being built by Harris Inc. and RBI ground calibration will be performed by Space Dynamics Lab. In addition to the broad bandpass and large field of view, RBI has strict calibration requirements, such as 0.5% or better absolute accuracy in the total band and total band repeatability over one month better than 0.067 W/m^2-sr plus 0.033% of the signal. This presentation will focus on the SDL ground calibration of the RBI non-linearity, which needs to be measured to 0.05% of the maximum signal in each band. The method to obtain the non-linearity calibration with high accuracy and the estimated uncertainties will be discussed

RBI Ground Calibration

The Radiation Budget Instrument (RBI) is the follow-on to the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments, which have flown on several spacecraft since 1997. RBI will continue the record obtained by CERES of the total outgoing radiation emitted and reflected by the Earth. To obtain this record, RBI will view the Earth in three bands, a total band covering 0.35 to 100 microns, a short band from 0.4 to 5 microns and a long band from 5 to 50 microns. Data will be collected mainly in a whiskbroom mode at a sample rate of 100 Hz and 1.6x2.6 degree field of view from low Earth orbit. RBI is being built by Exelis Inc. and RBI ground calibration will be performed by Space Dynamics Lab. In addition to the broad bandpass and large field of view, RBI has strict calibration requirements, such as 0.5% or better absolute accuracy in the total band and total band repeatability over one month better than 0.067 W/m^2-sr plus 0.033% of the signal. The methods to provide a complete calibration of RBI with high accuracy will be discussed. Calibration will include RSR, non-linearity, point response function characterization, repeatability and absolute response

RBI Ground Calibration

The Radiation Budget Instrument (RBI) is the follow-on to the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments, which have flown on several spacecraft since 1997. RBI will continue the record obtained by CERES of the total outgoing radiation emitted and reflected by the Earth. To obtain this record, RBI will view the Earth in three bands, a total band covering 0.35 to 100 microns, a short band from 0.4 to 5 microns and a long band from 5 to 50 microns. Data will be collected mainly in a whiskbroom mode at a sample rate of 100 Hz and 1.6x2.6 degree field of view from low Earth orbit. RBI is being built by Exelis Inc. and RBI ground calibration will be performed by Space Dynamics Lab. In addition to the broad bandpass and large field of view, RBI has strict calibration requirements, such as 0.5% or better absolute accuracy in the total band and total band repeatability over one month better than 0.067 W/m^2-sr plus 0.033% of the signal. The methods to provide a complete calibration of RBI with high accuracy will be discussed. Calibration will include RSR, non-linearity, point response function characterization, repeatability and absolute response

Pre-Launch Characterization of the WISE Payload

The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), launched in December 2009, is a NASA-funded Explorer mission that is providing an all-sky survey in the mid-infrared with far greater sensitivity and resolution than any previous IR survey mission. The Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory designed, fabricated, and characterized the science payload, which is a cryogenically cooled infrared telescope with four 1024x1024 infrared focal plane arrays covering from 2.8 to 26 μm. Pre-launch characterization included measuring focus, image quality, repeatability, response non-linearity, saturation, latency, absolute response, flatfield, point response function, scanner linearity, and relative spectral response. This paper provides a brief overview of the payload, discusses pre-launch characterization methods, and presents key performance results from ground characterization and early on-orbit performance