The role of small satellites in NASA and NOAA earth observation programs / Committee on Earth Studies, Space Studies Board, Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Applications, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Earth Studies.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

United States.

United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Microspacecraft--United States.

Microspacecraft.

Artificial satellites in Earth sciences--United States.

Artificial satellites in Earth sciences.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (104 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, c2000.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Remote observations of Earth from space serve an extraordinarily broad range of purposes, resulting in extraordinary demands on those at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and elsewhere who must decide how to execute them. In research, Earth observations promise large volumes of data to a variety of disciplines with differing needs for measurement type, simultaneity, continuity, and long-term instrument stability. Operational needs, such as weather forecasting, add a distinct set of requirements for continual and highly reliable monitoring of global conditions. The Role of Small Satellites in NASA and NOAA Earth Observation Programs confronts these diverse requirements and assesses how they might be met by small satellites. In the past, the preferred architecture for most NASA and NOAA missions was a single large spacecraft platform containing a sophisticated suite of instruments. But the recognition in other areas of space research that cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and robustness may be enhanced by using small spacecraft has raised questions about this philosophy of Earth observation. For example, NASA has already abandoned its original plan for a follow-on series of major platforms in its Earth Observing System. This study finds that small spacecraft can play an important role in Earth observation programs, providing to this field some of the expected benefits that are normally associated with such programs, such as rapid development and lower individual mission cost. It also identifies some of the programmatic and technical challenges associated with a mission composed of small spacecraft, as well as reasons why more traditional, larger platforms might still be preferred. The reasonable conclusion is that a systems-level examination is required to determine the optimum architecture for a given scientific and/or operational objective. The implied new challenge is for NASA and NOAA to find intra- and interagency planning mechanisms that can achieve the most appropriate and cost-effective balance among their various requirements.

Contents:

""THE ROLE OF SMALL SATELLITES IN NASA AND NOAA EARTH OBSERVATION PROGRAMS""; ""Copyright""; ""Foreword""; ""Acknowledgment of Reviewers""; ""Contents""; ""Executive Summary""; ""SMALL SATELLITES VERSUS SMALL MISSIONS""; ""MEETING CORE OBSERVATIONAL NEEDS""; ""CAPABILITY OF SMALL SATELLITES TO PERFORM EARTH OBSERVATION MISSIONS""; ""FLEXIBILITY AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY SMALL SATELLITES""; ""AVAILABILITY OF RELIABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES""; ""COST OF SMALL SATELLITE MISSIONS""; ""SENSOR DEVELOPMENT""; ""MISSION ARCHITECTURE""; ""MANAGEMENT OF SMALL SATELLITE PROGRAMS""; ""MISSION PLANNING""

""CONCLUSION""""1 Introduction ""; ""REFERENCES""; ""2 Core Observational Needs ""; ""REQUIRED MEASUREMENTS""; ""Measurements in Support of Climate and Global Change Research""; ""Measurements in Support of Operational Applications""; ""CHARACTERIZATION, CALIBRATION, AND VALIDATION""; ""Prelaunch Sensor Characterization""; ""Calibration""; ""Validation""; ""DATA CONTINUITY""; ""Operational Data Continuity""; ""Data Continuity in Research""; ""SIMULTANEITY""; ""SAMPLING ERRORS""; ""SUMMARY""; ""REFERENCES""; ""3 Payload Sensor Characteristics ""

""PAYLOAD DESIGN AND ACCOMMODATION REQUIREMENTS""""CURRENTLY PLANNED SENSORS""; ""SENSOR COSTS""; ""FUTURE SENSOR DESIGNS: IMPLICATIONS OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES""; ""Size and Design Constraints""; ""Fundamental Limits on Size""; ""Technological Limits on Size""; ""Measurement Strategies and Mission Architectures""; ""SUMMARY""; ""4 Small Satellite Buses ""; ""CAPABILITIES OF SMALL SATELLITE BUSES""; ""SPACECRAFT BUS COSTS""; ""UTILITY OF ""COMMERCIAL"" SPACECRAFT""; ""SPACECRAFT CAPABILITY AS A PAYLOAD DESIGN PARAMETER""; ""PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR-LED PROJECTS""; ""FUTURE TRENDS""; ""SUMMARY""

""REFERENCES""""5 Small Launch Vehicles""; ""SMALL LAUNCH VEHICLES FOR EOS AND NPOESS""; ""SUMMARY""; ""6 Small Satellites and Mission Architectures ""; ""OPTIONS FOR DISTRIBUTING SENSORS""; ""Single-Sensor Platforms""; ""Multisensor Platforms""; ""Clusters""; ""Constellations""; ""COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF SMALL SATELLITE ARCHITECTURES""; ""Maintenance""; ""NPOESS""; ""EOS""; ""SUMMARY""; ""REFERENCES""; ""7 Opportunities and Challenges in Managing Small Satellite Systems ""; ""PROGRAMMATIC APPROACHES TO TECHNICAL ISSUES""; ""RISKS""; ""Programmatic Risks""; ""Management of Programmatic Risks""

""Hidden Programmatic Costs""""Scientific Risks""; ""Management of Scientific Risks""; ""Hidden Scientific Costs""; ""SUMMARY""; ""REFERENCES""; ""8 Findings and Recommendations ""; ""MISSION COSTS""; ""MEETING MISSION GOALS: OPPORTUNITIES WITH SMALL SATELLITES""; ""OPERATIONAL AND RESEARCH EARTH OBSERVATIONS""; ""PAYLOADS""; ""SATELLITE BUSES""; ""LAUNCH VEHICLES""; ""MISSION ARCHITECTURES""; ""SYSTEM MANAGEMENT""; ""SUMMARY""; ""Appendixes""; ""A Statement of Task ""; ""ANALYSIS OF SMALL SATELLITE CAPABILITIES IN LIGHT OF SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR CORE OBSERVATIONAL NEE...""

""B Effects of Technology on Sensor Size and Design ""

Notes:

"Support for this project was provided by Contract NASW 96013 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration"--T.p. verso.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

0-309-18370-7

1-280-18552-X

9786610185528

0-309-59409-X

0-585-25489-3

OCLC:

923263147