During the 90\u27s with the operation of the Extended Duration Orbiter (EDO), Space Station Freedom (SSF), large platforms in polar and geosynchronus orbits around the Earth, and supporting systems and technology, an infrastructure will exist that will offer a wide range of opportunities for science and applications payloads. The Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is in a unique position of studying for NASA science missions for all of these systems. This paper will discuss a variety of payloads being studied for NASA at the MSFC that are scheduled for flight in the 90\u27s, in support of space science and Mission to Planet Earth. These science payloads such as the Controls, Astrophysics and Structures Experiment in Space (CASES), Advanced Solar Observatory (ASO), Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS), and Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS), etc. will fully utilize the capabilities of the EDO, SSF, Earth Observation System (EOS), and Earth Science Geostationary Platform (ESGP). Emphasis will be placed on showing how these scientific payloads can fully exploit the great potential of these new capabilities for exciting new science and application missions

De Sanctis, Carmine E.

Marshall, George C.

English

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

The Space Congress® Proceedings 1990 (27th) 90's - Decade Of Opportunity Apr 24th, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Paper Session I-B - Science and Application Payloads in the 90's Carmine E. De Sanctis Chief, Space Science and Applications Group, PS02 Program Development George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, National Aeronautics & Space Administration, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812 Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.erau.edu/space-congress-proceedings Scholarly Commons Citation De Sanctis, Carmine E. and Marshall, George C., "Paper Session I-B - Science and Application Payloads in the 90's" (1990). The Space Congress® Proceedings. 9. https://commons.erau.edu/space-congress-proceedings/proceedings-1990-27th/april-24-1990/9 This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences at Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Space Congress® Proceedings by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact commons@erau.edu. SCIENCE AND APPLICATION PAYLOADS IN THE 90'sCarmine E. De Sanctis Chief, Space Science and Applications Group, PS02Program DevelopmentGeorge C. Marshall Space Flight CenterNational Aeronautics & Space AdministrationMarshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812ABSTRACTDuring the 90's with the operation of the Extended Duration Orbiter (EDO), Space Station Freedom (SSF), large platforms in polar and geosynchronus orbits around the Earth, and supporting systems and technology, an infrastructure will exist that will offer a wide range of opportunities for science and applications payloads. The Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is in a unique position of studying for NASA science missions for all of these systems. This paper will discuss a variety of payloads being studied for NASA at the MSFC that are scheduled for flight in the 90's, in support of space science and Mission to Planet Earth. These science payloads such as the Controls, Astrophysics and Structures Experiment in Space (CASES), Advanced Solar Observatory (ASO), Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS), and Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS), etc. will fully utilize the capabilities of the EDO, SSF, Earth Observation System (EOS), and Earth Science Geostationary Platform (ESGP). Emphasis will be placed on showing how these scientific payloads can fully exploit the great potential of these new capabilities for exciting new science and application missions.INTRODUCTIONDuring the late 1990 f s science missions will require the use of more powerful science instruments and facilities such as the Controls, Astrophysics, and Structures Experiment in Space (CASES), Pinhole Occulter Facility (POF), and Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS). These instruments will take full advantage of the infrastructure that will be in-place during the 1990's: Extended Duration Orbiter (EDO), Space Station Freedom (SSF), Earth Observing System (EOS), and the Earth Science Geostationary Platform (ESGP). The synergism from this infrastructure and scientific payloads will not only obtain valuable scientific data, but provide the foundation for the scientific and application missions for the next century. In addition, due to the long periods of2-38time required to build the "Great Observatories" such as HST and AXAF, considerable work needs to be done in the 90 ! s for the observatories of the 21st century. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview on some of the science and applications payloads that MSFC is developing for NASA, and provide reference material for interested people to obtain more detailed information. The author of this paper is indebted to the members of the Space Science and Applications Group, PS02, at MSFC for their assistance in writing this paper and managing these programs.CONTROLS, ASTROPHYSICS, AND STRUCTURES EXPERIMENT IN SPACE (CASES)MSFC is presently managing for NASA (Codes E and R) a very interesting STS mission entitled Controls, Astrophysics, and Structures Experiment in Space (CASES). Langley Research Center will support MSFC in the experiment definition and manage the Guest Investigators Program. The CASES project is currently in a Phase B status, being studied by the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company (LMSC) and Teledyne Brown Engineering (TBE). The CASES experiment will be flown as shown in Figure 1, utilizing Spacelab components and the STS. The CASES would also benefit from long duration missions and could effectively utilize the capabilities of the Extended Duration Orbiter. The technology benefits from CASES would provide a firm foundation to develop the Pinhole Occulter Facility (POF) as a space station attached payload, and support other advanced astrophysics missions. CASES will investigate critical control technology that is needed to stabilize and point large flexible structures in space. The control of a deployable 32-m boom, of a design identical to the one used in the Solar Array Flight Experiment program, will be implemented using small cold-gas thrusters for pointing. Angular momentum exchange devices will be used for active damping to suppress vibrations. Since the boom is rigidly attached to the orbiter, the orbiter/boom system may be pointed to a predetermined target for a period of at least 30 minutes. In addition, tracking and slewing of the orbiter at small angular rates will be demonstated. A significant advantage of this control method is that the orbiter can be stabilized for significant periods of time with very low g levels.The CASES will also accomodate an astrophysics/solar hard x-ray imaging experiment. This experiment will address important issues in high energy astronomy, such as the identification and characterization of the energy source seen at the galactic center and the energy release mechanisms in solar flares. Imaging of hard x-rays is accomplished by aperture plates placed at the tip of the boom. This provides coded aperture imaging on position sensitive proportional counter arrays placed in the cargo bay at the base of the2-39boom. The large separation between masks and detectors makes possible high spatial resolution.SPACE STATION FREEDOMThe Space Station Freedom, (SSF.) will provide science and application payloads with many opportunities, in future U.S. - space activities, by providing a large-scale permanent space facility. This facility will provide structural support, electrical power, data processing, communications and manned resources. Internal (i.e., pressurized volume) payloads will be devoted to materials processing and life science. research. The attached payloads externally mounted on the Space Station truss may include astronomy, and solar physics telescopes, earth science instruments, active space physics experiments,and cosmic ray experiments. NASA and the MSFC are currently studying the following science and application payloads for the SSF: Pinhole Occulter Facility (POF), Advanced Solar Observatory (ASO), Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS), Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS), High Resolution Microwave Spectrometer Sounder (HIMSS), the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM), and the Neutral Environment With Plasma Interactions Monitoring System (NEWPIMS).PIHHOLE OCCOLTKR FACILITY fPOF)The Pinhole Occulter Facility (POF) is an important solar observatory. The POF has been conceived as a stand-alone facility suitable for advanced studies of solar active regions, the solar corona, and cosmic X-ray sources. The POF payload is a potential candidate for continuous operation on SSF. The POF consists of a boom, deployed-on-orbit to about 32-ii, (105 feet) in length, which separates an occulter plane (mask) from a detector plane. The long baseline is also used to provide external occulting for white light and. ultraviolet coronal instruments. The x-rays will be imaged to sub-arc-second resolution, and in higher energies than previously possible* Coronal observations will be with higher spatial resolution, lower scattered background radiation, and to a lower depth in the solar corona, than was before possible. Figure 2 shows the POF attached, to SSF. An accommodation study of the POF on SSF was completed in 1988 for NASA/MSFC by the Teledyne Brown Engineering (TBE) Company. The CASES pay load,, previously described, should serve as a valuable pathfinder for the POF both from, a science and technology viewpoint.2*40ADVANCED SOLAR OBSERVATORY (ASO)The Advanced Solar Observatory (ASO) is a solar physics observatory that may be implemented in the future on Space Station Freedom. The ASO takes advantage of the unique resources provided by SSF to host instruments of large, mass and volume, the ability to coordinate observations from multiple instruments, maintenance and servicing functions, and the ability to perform instrument modifications and upgrades while on orbit. The objectives of the Advanced Solar Observatory, are to significantly advance the study of the Sun to determine and understand the fundamental processes which drive solar dynamic phenomena. Development continues on a comprehensive set of solar telescopes and instruments which permit simultaneous and coordinated measurements across the energy spectra ranging from gamma rays and energetic neutrons, soft x-rays, extreme-ultraviolet and ultraviolet, visible light, and low-frequency radio emissions. The ASO on SSF (See Figure 2) will host a high energy facility, POF, a multi-telescope high resolution telescope cluster, and the low-frequency radio facility. A ground based command and data facility will be used to coordinate measurements taken from SSF instruments with data taken from other free flying and ground based solar instruments.A NASA/MSFC funded study in 1989 with Teledyne Brown Engineering (TBE) has defined requirements for the ASO on SSF, and confirmed the assessment that the ASO can be accommodated on SSF.LASER ATMOSPHERIC WIND SOUNDER (LAWS)LAWS represents a major step toward the goal of making routine global wind profile measurements from space. Its purpose is to improve our understanding of the atmospheric wind field by investigating many interdisciplinary scientific questions from a polar orbiting platform of the Earth Observing System (EOS) (See Figure 3) or from Space Station Freedom. Wind profiles obtained by the LAWS system will provide research information essential for advancing the skill of numerical weather prediction, furthering our knowledge of large-scale atmospheric circulation and climate dynamics, and improving our understanding of global biogeochemical and hydrologic cycles. LAWS is a facility instrument on the EOS and has also been accepted for concept definition as an attached payload on Space Station Freedom (SSF).The system technology required for space-based operation is the coherent C02 Doppler lidar technique. This system, operating in the eye-safe infrared wavelength (9 to 10 um)has been used successfully in ground-based and airborne wind measurement systems. The space system, currently envisioned consists of a pulsed, frequency-controlled CO- laser transmitter, a continously scanning transmit-and-receive telescope, a heterodyne detector, and a signal 'processing system,' Initial studies have shown that this .instrument. concept for LAWS can be accommodated, on both the EOS polar orbiting platform and Space. Station Freedom,,A LANS science team, was selected in early 1.989 composed of scientists active in the fields of atmospheric dynamics andlaser technologies* General Electric and Lockheed were selected for parallel studies in early 1.989 by MAS A, to define a LAWS configuration for both the EOS polar platform and, SSF* Both, concepts will be studied in detail by NASA in order to select the optimum system for direct measurement of profiles around the Earth.Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRIM) is aflight of several instruments on either a free flyer or to obtain tropical rainfall data over a period of atyears. The TRMM is being proposed as a joint U.S%-Japan mission for-the study of tropical rainfall systemstheir impact on global weather cycles. . TRMM would include the first precipitation radar ever flown-in space, which would be provided by Japan, % liSF'C has completed a SSF 1 study for NASA'of the payload (a radar, at microwave radiometerf and a visible and infrared cloud -(Figure 5)* The study concluded that TRMM could be by SSF* For the purposes -of the study it that all'of .the instruments'would be Mounted~ on a pallet*... pallet would be pointed by apositioning with a 45 offset to avoid a '. 'giabai-iock situation*A activity at Flight Center hasthe possibility of flying on a aultiaissionRecently at decision by NASA to fly the initial on a flyer launched by a rocket* will also provide: a singleTRMK J that an electrical scanner, payload 'transition to SSF,..will be a and lit It will aa a vehicleend theiNltpresent significant perturbations to the ambient environment, Additionally, the operations on the SSF may be affected in yet undefined ways by the space environment.Operationally, the large size of SSF and the inclusion of many high-current electrical paths, and numerous simultaneous communications links could produce many unknown environmental perturbations. As a result, the environment of SSF needs to be verified during construction, and as operations commence and continue.Users of SSF will have a critical need for knowledge of the actual environment within which external instrument measurements will be made. Telemetry and sensor signals may be masked by the noise, leading to false conclusions due to defective data. Thus, a continous, ongoing data base is critically needed that characterizes the environmental parameters of and around SSF as functions of time and location.In response to the above needs, a system to provide comprehensive environmental measurements at multiple locations on SSF is planned. This system called the Neutral Environment With Plasma Interactions Monitoring System (NEWPIMS) will have at least a twofold function: to monitor the impact of the Space Station on the environment and vice versa, and to supply a database to users that can be employed to unfold natural from induced changes in environmental parameters at the Station.The NEWPIMS Science Study Team has defined a suite of instruments needed to provide the measurements necessary to define the external environment around the Space Station, A brief definition of each instrument and its measurement capabilities is provided in reference 7 to show the environment parameters covered.EARTH SCIENCE GEOSTATIONARY PLATFORMS (ESGP)The ability to continuously dwell over a specific region of the Earth to study multi-discipline Earth Science processes makes the Earth Science Geostationary Platforms (ESGP) especially important in providing a dynamical understanding of the physical processes that control natural and man-influenced global changes. From geostationary orbit (22,300 miles above Earth), the complete diurnal cycle of land, ocean, and atmospheric phenomena can be observed at time scale without aliasing.Drawing on their experience as Earth scientists! the ESGP Science Steering Committee has identified a wide of specific processes that ^ are integral to the Mission to Planet Earth objectives and require measurement from geostationary1-43orbit. A subset of these phenomena and processes include: precipitation and lightning? mesoscale atmospheric and oceanic circulations; coastal processes including tides; environemental pollution; volcano eruption and earthquake occurrence; oceanic phytoplankton blooms; water vapor sources, sinks and structure; solar flux and solar constant; atmospheric trace gases; diurnal terrestrial ecosystem processes; cloud evolution and severe storms; and the Earth system radiation balance.Three U.S. Earth Science geostationary platforms and two foreign provided geostationary platforms are being proposed in the Mission to Planet Earth initiative. The initial U.S. platform is expected to weigh approximately 4,600 kg (10,000 Ibs.) and carry about 1,400 kg (3,000 Ibs.) of scientific instruments. Candidate instruments include facility instruments (those which provide information useful to multiple disciplines), principal investigator instruments (those provided by individual scientists to address specific discipline processes), and NOAA operational instruments. Platform concept studies are currently being conducted by Lockheed Missiles and Space Company (LMSC); their subcontractors, Ford Aerospace and Computer Sciences Corporation; and by the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) inhouse team. Science instrument concepts are already being studied by NASA Centers, NOAA, Universities, and instrument contractors. Launch of the first ESGP is currently planned for the late 1990's.CONCLUSIONThe infrastructure planned for the 1990's will offer a wide range of opporturnities for science and application payloads. We have shown how the potential capability of the Extended Duration Orbiter (EDO); Space Station Freedom (SSF); and the polar, geostationary, and free flyer platforms of Mission to Planet Earth can be effectively utilized for exciting new science and application missions such as the CASES, POF, ASO, NEWPIMS, LAWS, and TRMM. The scientific and technological results from some of these payloads should be extremely useful in supporting the President's new initiatives.Since considerable time is required to develop and deliver experiment hardware, now is the time to begin planning experiments and payloads to take advantage of the unique capabilities described in this paper. We at NASA/MSFC are confident that this infrastructure will meet the current and future needs of the scientific community and look forward to working with them to exploit these capabilities for the benefit of mankind.2-44REFERENCES1. "Controls, Astrophysics and Structures Experiment in Space (CASES) 11 . MSFC Report, November 19882. l! Solar Flares and Coronal Physics Using POF as a Research Tool 11 , NASA Conference Publication 2421, May 19853. "The Advanced Solar Observatory Executive Summary 11 , A. B. C. Walker, Jr., R. Moore, and W. Roberts, MSFC Technical Report, January 19864. "Advanced Solar Observatory (ASO) Accommodations Requirements Study Final Report". Contract No. NAS8-37128, Teledyne Brown Engineering, May 1989.5. "Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS) Instrument Panel Report", NASA Headquarters, January 1987.6. "Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Space Station Accommodations Analyses". MSFC Report, August 1987.7. "Neutral Environment with Plasma Interactions Monitoring System on Space Station (NEWPIMS)". J. N. Barfield, E. C. Whipple, and W. T. Roberts, llth Japan Space Station Utilization Workshop, Tokyo, January 19908. "A Status Report: NASA's Plans for an Earth ScienceGeostationary Platform". G. J. Jedlovec, G.' C. Wilson, and J. C. Dodge, GOES Satellite Conference, Virginia, April 1989.2-45Figure 1. Control, Astrophysics, And Structures Experiments In Space (CASES)PiNHOLE OCCULTER FACILITYHIGH RESOLUTION TELESCOPE CLUSTERFigure 2. Advanced Solar Observatory (ASO)2-46Figure 3. Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS)Figure 4. Earth Science Geostationary Platform (ESGP)2-47

Paper Session I-B - Science and Application Payloads in the 90\u27s

https://commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1976&amp;context=space-congress-proceedings

Paper Session I-B - Science and Application Payloads in the 90\u27s

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University