Blakeslee, R. J.

Pavelitz, S.

NASA Technical Reports Server

LIS Integration as Hosted Payload on STP-H5 
Unique Science Contributions from ISS Platform 
Summary 
Introduction and Overview 
Mission 
 Fly a space-qualified, flight-spare LIS on ISS to take 
advantage of unique capabilities provided by the ISS (e.g., 
high inclination, real time data).  
 Integrate LIS as a hosted payload on the DoD Space Test 
Program-Houston 5 (STP-H5)  mission and launch on a 
Space X rocket in June 2016 for a minimum 2 year mission. 
Measurement 
 
 NASA and its partners developed and demonstrated effectiveness and value of   
space-based lightning observations as a remote sensing tool. 
 LIS measures total lightning (amount, rate, radiant energy) during both day and  
night, with storm scale resolution, millisecond timing, and high, detection efficiency. 
– LIS daytime detection is especially unique and scientifically important (>70% occurs during day). 
– Also, LIS globally detects TOTAL (both cloud and ground) lightning with no land-ocean bias. 
 
LIS Lightning and Background Images 
(Super Storm Sandy  October 28, 2012) 
Need and Benefit 
 Lightning is quantitatively coupled to both 
thunderstorm and related geophysical processes, 
and therefore provides important science inputs 
across a wide range of disciplines (e.g., weather, 
climate, atmospheric chemistry, lightning physics). 
 LIS on ISS will extend TRMM time series 
observations, expand latitudinal coverage, provide 
real time data to operational users, and enable 
cross-sensor calibration. 
─ ISS LIS builds upon a solid foundation of 20 years on-orbit observations. 
─ Key LIS scientists, engineers, and facilities are still in place to support this mission. 
Flight Spare LIS 
LIS Launch and Installation Scenario 
LIS Performance Parameters 
Nadir 
Wake 
Starboard 
Zenith 
Ram 
Sensor Unit 
Electronics 
Unit  
Interface Unit  
• LIS is one of thirteen 
instruments on the  
STP-H5 payload 
manifest. 
• Payload built to 
allow robotic 
installation on ISS 
external truss as 
illustrated below. 
Science Operations and  Data Management 
Operation (minimum 2 years) 
 
 LIS on ISS will continue the cross-disciplinary support of high-value science and 
applications begun with OTD and  LIS on TRMM. 
 The project with leverage data-handling infrastructure from TRMM to quickly 
deliver high-quality LIS data to users once operations begin 
 LIS remains the “gold standard” for understanding global lightning climatology. 
Lightning (top), radar (middle), 
and vertical velocity (bottom) 
illustrate strong lightning-
storm coupling 
 Weather: Total lightning is strongly coupled in a quantitative way 
to thunderstorm processes and responds to updraft velocity and 
cloud particles (concentration, phase, type, and flux).  
─ LIS acts like a radar in space: it reveals the heart of the cloud. 
─ Lightning can improve convective precipitation estimates. 
─ Lightning is strongly coupled to severe weather hazards (winds, floods, 
tornadoes, hail, wild fires) and can improve forecast models. 
 Climate: Lightning is an excellent variable for climate monitoring 
because it is sensitive to small changes in temperature and 
atmospheric forcing.  ISS LIS will: 
─ Extend 16 year time series of TRMM LIS, expand to higher latitudes. 
─ Monitor the occurrence and changes in extreme storms. 
─ Provide much desired cross-sensor calibrations between platforms. 
 Chemistry: ISS LIS will help improve estimates of lightning produced 
NOx for climate and air quality studies. 
─ Lightning NOx also impacts ozone, an important green house gas.  
─ Climate most sensitive to ozone in upper troposphere, exactly where 
lightning is the most important source of NOx.  
 Other: Complementary ISS LIS observations will help unravel the 
mechanisms leading to terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) and 
Transient Luminous Events (TLEs). 
 
TRMM LIS did not cover CONUS for 
climate and chemistry assessments 
Real time lightning useful for 
operations (LIS in Hurricane Katrina) 
GOES-R Geostationary Lightning 
Mapper based on LIS heritage 
 Lightning coverage  at higher latitude missed by TRMM 
– TRMM LIS missed up to 30% lightning in N. Hemisphere summer 
– Enhance regional and global weather, climate, and chemistry studies 
– Provide CONUS coverage (needed for the National Climate Assessment). 
 Real time lightning using ISS for operational applications 
– Provide real time lightning in data sparse regions, especially oceans 
 ( storm warnings, nowcasts, oceanic aviation support, long- range lightning 
system validation, hurricane rapid intensification evaluations). 
– Desired by NASA and strongly endorsed by NOAA partners 
 ( partners include: NWS Pacific Region, Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Ocean 
Prediction Center, Aviation Weather Center, and National Hurricane Center ). 
 Enable simultaneous / complementary observations with 
other ISS payloads 
– Provide critical daytime lightning to better understand mechanisms 
leading to TGFs and TLEs ( strongly endorsed by ESA ASIM). 
 Support cross-sensor calibration and validation activities 
– Inter-calibrate ISS LIS with GOES-R GLM and MTG LI for improved 
science and applications ( strongly endorsed by NOAA and ESA ). 
Payload Operations Control Center (POCC ) 
Lightning Imaging Sensor on International Space Station 
S. Pavelitz1 and R. J. Blakeslee  
 1NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (email: Steven.D.Pavelitz@nasa.gov, phone: 256-961-7462) Presentation: 2016-Poster-1-23 
ISS R & D Conference, San Diego, CA 
July 12-14, 2016 
LIS Heritage (Flight, Infrastructure, Hardware) 
Sensor Unit (legacy hardware) 
- Optical Assembly 
- 128x128 CCD Focal Plane 
- Lightning and Background detection 
Electronics Unit (legacy hardware) 
- Real Time Event Processor, Background 
       removal, Data formatting 
- Power conversion and control 
Interface Unit (new hardware) 
- Power conversion, Timing, Control 
- ISS Interface 
Electronics Unit 
Interface Unit 
Sensor Unit 
Science and Applications from LIS Lightning 
Global Coverage of LIS on ISS 
 ISS LIS orbit overlaid on TRMM LIS Data. 
 ISS LIS will detect 98% of lightning on annual basis 
(versus 90% for TRMM LIS) . 
 3D and 2D simulations of ISS LIS orbit and footprint using the 
STK orbit tracking and planning tool. 
 This tool is used in the LIS Payload Operations Control Center. 
 
Max LIS Detection to Latitude 54 (red dashed  line) 
   Field-of-View (FOV)         80  80°    Measurement Accuracy
   Pixel IFOV (nadir)         4 km            location    1 pixel
   Interference Filter            intensity    10 %    .
           wavelength         777.4 nm            time    tag at frame rate
           bandwidth         1 nm    Dimensions
   Detection Threshold         4.7 mJ/m
2
sr            sensor unit    7.8 14.6 in  (20  37 cm)
   Signal-to-Noise Ratio         6 .            electronics unit    12.2 8.7  10.6 in  (31  22  27 cm)
   CCD Array Size         128 128            interface unit    9.8 2.4 13.8 in  (25  6  35 cm)
   Dynamic Range > 100    Weight    55 lbs (25 kg)
   Detection Efficiency         ~ 90%    Power    35 W
   False Event Rate <  5 %    Telemetry Data Rate    8 kilobytes/second
STP-H5 Payload 
• STP-H5 will launch to ISS on Space X 
via Dragon trunk in Nov. 2016. 
• LIS will be installed on ISS in an 
Earth viewing (nadir) position as 
illustrated in these figures. 
• Science operations will be managed 
from newly established  LIS POCC. 
• Data handling involves close 
partnership between LIS Science 
Team and GHRC  DAAC. 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20160009025 2019-08-31T02:01:04+00:00Z


Lightning Imaging Sensor on International Space Station

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