2008 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program

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programs to train teachers in remote sensing. We have identified over 1500 peer reviewed journal publications and another 15,000 bibliographic citations generated from data obtained by this airborne science program. Our airborne program is in a unique and ready position to support the successful development of the decadal survey and venture class missions. Our global airborne support, combined with satellite and ground measurements, allows the science community to generate the information needed to advise our policymakers, who in turn lead our society. There is no question that the NASA Airborne Science Program in one of the jewels in NASA’s crown. We are the only very high altitude science aircraft fleet, flying routinely above 95% of the atmosphere, with the largest rapidly-configurable flying laboratories. This report presents a detailed summary of our accomplishments this past year, describing our field campaigns, the status of our fleet and technology development efforts, and our management, collaboration, and outreach to the science community and general public. 2
INTRODUCTION It’s hard to believe another year has already gone by and we are issuing another Annual Report. We have had a very good year, starting with the stabilization of our budget, which was given an increase of 22% over the next five years. This gives us a steady funding level, instead of the large reductions we were facing. At the same time, we are adjusting our program to add some significant capability in Unmanned Systems, aircraft science payload telecommunication/sensor webs, the UAVSAR project, and our development of standards across our platforms to improve sensor portability and effectiveness. Much more of our funds were used this year on our core aircraft, the P-3, DC-8, WB-57s and ER-2s. We are improving the capability of the WB-57 to carry more without the loss of range and endurance. There have been significant strides in improving and standardizing the P-3 and DC-8 science station functionality and user interfaces. We are also adding the G-III to our core aircraft. As a part of its modifications to successfully operate the UAVSAR system, it now has the world’s most precise autopilot for an aircraft of its class. Other new technology vehicles, such as the Global Hawks, are now in the NASA inventory and are being prepared for their first science missions next year. This effort is made possible by our partnering with Northrop Grumman and NOAA. Our small SIERRA UAS is also on track for its first international mission next year supporting an International Polar Year research activity. These aircraft will really bring about a paradigm shift in airborne utilization for the science community, with their ability to fly over 11,000 miles and more than 30 hours, or fly down low, inexpensively, with small payloads in dangerous regions. In addition, we have assigned a liaison to the FAA Unmanned Aircraft Program Office to help work out UAS science flight issues. The FAA has also given us a seat in the small UAS aviation rulemaking committee so we are able to have input on the direction and process for getting these vehicles into the National Airspace. The major airborne mission of the year was ARCTAS, which was a multi-aircraft, multiagency, international program combining the efforts of three NASA aircraft, a 3
Page 2 and 3: On the cover: In the foreground are
Page 5 and 6: TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary
Page 7 and 8: LIST OF FIGURES Fig. # Caption Page
Page 9 and 10: Fig. # Caption Page # 37 ESTO Suppo
Page 11: CONTRIBUTORS The contribution of th
Page 16 and 17: NOAA and a DOE aircraft, and aircra
Page 18 and 19: SCIENCE MISSIONS &
Page 21 and 22: ARCTAS Science Focus: Atmospheric C
Page 23 and 24: Figure 4 DC-8 Arrival in Thule, Gre
Page 25 and 26: sample downwind evolution of Canadi
Page 27 and 28: Figure 7 ACCLAIM instrument on the
Page 29 and 30: configurations and interfaces. SIMP
Page 31 and 32: Figure 8 2008 UAS proposed operatio
Page 33 and 34: Figure 10 The Oden Research Vessel
Page 35 and 36: California Fire Emergency Response
Page 37 and 38: Figure 13 AMS-Wildfire sensor data,
Page 39 and 40: Southern California Post Fire Evalu
Page 41 and 42: CALIPSO: Caribbean Validation Missi
Page 43 and 44: Cold Land Processes Science Focus:
Page 45 and 46: Science Focus: Astromaterials Spons
Page 47 and 48: ESA ATV Reentry Science Focus: Atmo
Page 49 and 50: SOGASEX Science Focus: Carbon Cycle
Page 51 and 52: presented unique challenges to a U.
Page 53 and 54: Figure 25 NOVICE instrument payload
Page 55: PROGRAM ELEMENTS: & SCIENCE REQUIRE
Page 58 and 59: s Figure 26 Airborne Science Progra
Page 60 and 61: Science & Requirements The Science
Page 62 and 63: Flight Requests The 2008 calendar y
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Collaborations and Partnerships The
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Interagency UAS Coordination As the
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Interagency Working Group for Airbo
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AIRBORNE SCIENCE
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NASA DC-8 In November 2007, the NAS
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NASA ER-2 NASA operates two ER- 2 (
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NASA WB-57 Fiscal Year 2008 saw muc
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NASA P-3 The P-3B Orion is based at
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NASA G-3 During FY 2008, the DFRC G
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Aerosonde The Aerosonde Mark 3 airc
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limited to 28,000 ft in the Nationa
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Twin Otter Twin Otter International
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PROGRAM ELEMENTS: & NEW TECHNOLOGIE
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ground control station, and is resp
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variety of atmospheric and remote s
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Figure 35 Flight Envelope with cont
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additional fuel bladders to the cen
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Wallops, VA Campaign Cleveland, OH
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RTMM is web-accessible, password pr
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B-200 High Spectral Resolution Lida
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Non-Deployment Teams Field Deployme
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AIRBORNE SCIENCE
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Airborne Sensor Technology Lab This
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Figure 43 Taken Oct. 4, 2007, 2-met
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Figure 45 B-200 aircraft trajectory
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Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility
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Media, Education & Outreach NASA Ea
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Figure 48 ARCTAS press article samp
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in Panama City in July and August,
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outside of NASA. This past year, NA
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APPENDICES In Memoriam Airborne Pro
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also helped pioneer the use of loca
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The Founding and Early History of t
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where you couldn’t find them, and
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Figure 52 Early remote sensing payl
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This aircraft was designated NASA 9
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Personnel from both countries were
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APPENDIX D Acronyms & Abbreviations
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DCS DESDynI DFRC DHS DOD DOE DSS Di
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L LAABS LAC LALE LaRC LIDAR LIST LV
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REVEAL RFI RPI RSD RSP RTMM RVSM Re
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2008 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program

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