May 28, 2003 CLP Measurement – Passive Microwave
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
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CLP Measurement Technologies Passive Microwave
Passive Microwave Team at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
May 28, 2003 CLP Measurement – Passive Microwave
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
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Outline
• Developed study strategy• Determined key driving parameters• Chose candidate orbit• Developed science performance metrics• Prioritizing study areas• Preliminary identification of technology drivers
May 28, 2003 CLP Measurement – Passive Microwave
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
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Cold Land Passive MW Concepts
• Real aperture– Dual frequency, dual polarization, conical scanning– 6-m deployable reflector, multiple feedhorns– Reflector emissivity and spin rate are concern
• 1-D STAR– Dual frequency, dual (or single) polarization– 6-m deployable cylindrical reflector– Nearly constant 50o incidence angle
• 2-D STAR– Single frequency, single polarization– Three 3-m deployable arms each with 250 elements– Multiple incidence angles (nadir to >50 degrees)
May 28, 2003 CLP Measurement – Passive Microwave
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
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25x25 km 5x5 km
Red = catchments with <100 pixelsat indicated spatial resolution
May 28, 2003 CLP Measurement – Passive Microwave
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
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Study Approach- Key Parameters
• Three strawman passive concepts were chosen by the CLPWG at the Ann Arbor Meeting (Nov 2002)
• Each is paired with a driving remote sensing science parameter, which directs our investigation
Concept Key RS science parameter
Key technology parameter
Real aperture Spatial resolution Aperture diameter
1D-STAR Spatial resolution Array size
2D-STAR NEDT Thinning/power
May 28, 2003 CLP Measurement – Passive Microwave
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
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Technology Development Issues for Real Aperture Concept
• Issues– Balance and Power Transfer Assembly (BAPTA)– Active system would be de-spun ( e.g. inside BAPTA)– Momentum compensation– Deployment / alignment , thermal stability
• Notes – “conventional“ concept– Largest rotating reflector system ever flown for MW instrument– Lifetime issues with mechanism, will drive spacecraft design
May 28, 2003 CLP Measurement – Passive Microwave
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
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Technology Development Issues for 1D-STAR Concept
65 elements/channel to get a reasonable NEDT (<1K)
• Issues– Stow and deploy fixed mesh reflector system– Material selection of mesh/coatings – Surface control of mesh backing structure– Reduce power required for multi-channel, multi-pol receivers– Lots of cabling & interconnects– Calibration
• Notes– Need deployment mechanism, but no spinning mechanism– Graceful degradation if/as receivers die– No technology heritage at high frequencies, spaceborne LRR might
demonstrate STAR at 19, 37.
May 28, 2003 CLP Measurement – Passive Microwave
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
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Technology Development Issues for 2D STAR Concept
~700 elements/channel gives 1.5K NEDT
• Issues– Stow and deploy boom structure– 2D STAR receivers at 19 and 37 GHz will need to be packaged
densely to minimize image aliasing– Current technology: rcvrs~0.5W/chan; 0.5-1.0 mW/correlation– Reduce Power required for multi-channel, multi-pol receivers– Interconnects and signal distribution– Calibration
• Notes – Single stage deployment, no moving parts after deployment– Power will be large, and interconnects are complex
May 28, 2003 CLP Measurement – Passive Microwave
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
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Summary & Next Tasks
• Spatial resolution– Aperture diameter
– Surface figure
– Mass
• Brightness temperature uncertainty– Emissivity
– Surface figure
– NEDT
– Thermal stability
• Swath width/coverage– Antenna geometry
– Beamwidth of STAR elements
– STAR bandwidth
• Compatibility with SAR• Interface characteristics
– ACS
– Power
– Thermal
May 28, 2003 CLP Measurement – Passive Microwave
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
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Technology Assessment
• Concentrate on 1-D STAR and real aperture– Most promising for fusion with SAR– Electrically the simplest vs. 2D, – Mechanically more complex vs. 2D
• Questions identified – How to integrate with SAR– Engineering issues: thermal, deployment/
packaging-in-shroud, power, mass, cabling/ inter-connects, reflector (solid, mesh, etc), metrology
• Answers lead to technology needs
May 28, 2003 CLP Measurement – Passive Microwave
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
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(show animation)
1D-STAR concept deployment
May 28, 2003 CLP Measurement – Passive Microwave
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
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Some Technologies Already Identified
• Mesh for reflector (1D-STAR and Real Aperture)– 14 / 19 / 37 GHz operation– Surface figure: ~200 um rms
• BAPTA for Real Aperture concept– Keep SAR feed static at focal point– Rotate radiometers with reflector
May 28, 2003 CLP Measurement – Passive Microwave
Goddard SpaceFlight Center
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Next tasks
– Examine SAR integration with 1D-STAR– Continue detailed study of Real Aperture– Assess state-of-the-art TRL– Tie technologies to science metrics– Determine break points in metrics where
technology development is needed– Make roadmaps