Orbital analysis for atmospheric trace molecule spectroscopy (ATMOS) Shuttle missionsAn orbital analysis was carried out to define the geographical coverage capabilities of an ATMOS solar occultation experiment on Space Shuttle/Spacelab missions. Particular attention was given to the effects of launch time, orbit inclination, altitude, and season on latitude-longitude coverage. It is shown that the widest band of latitude coverage in the tropics and temperate zones can be achieved with a midinclined orbit and a midmorning or late-night launch time. The use of ATMOS Shuttle underflights to provide coincident measurements with a solar occultation experiment on the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite is also examined.
Document ID
19890025321
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Harrison, Edwin F. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Denn, Frederick M. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Gibson, Gary G. (PRC Kentron, Inc. Aerospace Technologies Div., Hampton, VA, United States)