2009 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program
2009 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program
2009 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Looking Ahead<br />
to FY10 and<br />
Beyond<br />
The <strong>Airborne</strong> <strong>Science</strong> <strong>Program</strong> has benefitted<br />
substantially from the support provided from our<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> leadership, our partners and our science<br />
community. Our focus for the future is to deliver on<br />
our commitments to missions and field capabilities<br />
that cost effectively enhance the science return<br />
coming from airborne experiments.<br />
In 2010 and beyond, the <strong>Airborne</strong> <strong>Science</strong> <strong>Program</strong><br />
plans to further implement its vision of maximum<br />
sensor portability. NSERC will provide the P-3B<br />
with a data distribution and communication system<br />
like that on the DC-8 so that instruments integrated<br />
on one will require minimum change to be integrated<br />
on the other. Leveraging investments made possible<br />
through the American Recovery and Reinvestment<br />
Act (ARRA), the ASF will build and start fielding<br />
common equipment interface panels between the<br />
WB-57, ER-2, and Global Hawk.<br />
The year 2010 will also see some substantial<br />
platform sustainability activities undertaken. The<br />
P-3B will complete its depot level maintenance<br />
and special structural inspection and the DC-8<br />
and ER-2 will initiate low utilization maintenance<br />
programs appropriate for their operational tempo<br />
and projected to produce significant life-cycle cost<br />
savings. The WB-57 is scheduled to complete<br />
its Gross Weight Increase project with flight<br />
demonstration and certification. ARRA is enabling<br />
the upgrade of the P-3B’s avionics and autopilot<br />
systems as well as the design and fabrication of<br />
replacement ailerons for the WB-57. The B-200<br />
aircraft operated from DFRC will be modified to be<br />
a remote sensing capable aircraft. Other examples<br />
of <strong>Airborne</strong> <strong>Science</strong> funded ARRA efforts include:<br />
- DAOF modifications and upgrades<br />
- Construction of a third UAVSAR Pod for<br />
use on Global Hawk and the G-III<br />
- Operation Ice Bridge <strong>Science</strong> Team<br />
funding<br />
- Development of a Global Hawk Mobile<br />
Operation Facility for Aircraft command<br />
and control<br />
Several ASP-related ARRA projects are a partnership<br />
with the Earth <strong>Science</strong> Technology Office and the<br />
Research and Analysis <strong>Program</strong>. These include:<br />
- Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS) -2<br />
- Enhanced MODIS <strong>Airborne</strong> Simulator<br />
(eMAS)<br />
- Portable Remote Imaging SpectroMeter<br />
(PRISM)<br />
- Global Ozone Lidar Demonstrator<br />
(GOLD)<br />
- Global Hawk wing pylons<br />
Most ARRA projects awards are expected to be<br />
completed in 2010, with a few planned to continue<br />
into 2011.<br />
Mission-wise, the Global Hawk (GH) will perform<br />
its inaugural science mission: GLOPAC (Global<br />
Hawk Pacific), which is a combination Aura<br />
calibration-validation / IPY mission. Following<br />
GLOPAC, Global Hawk will prepare for the<br />
109