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MISTiC Winds, a Micro-Satellite Constellation Approach to High Resolution Observations of the Atmosphere Using Infrared Sounding and 3D Winds MeasurementsMISTiC(TM) Winds is an approach to improve short-term weather forecasting based on a miniature high resolution, wide field, thermal emission spectrometry instrument that will provide global tropospheric vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature and humidity at high (3-4 km) horizontal and vertical ( 1 km) spatial resolution. MISTiCs extraordinarily small size, payload mass of less than 15 kg, and minimal cooling requirements can be accommodated aboard a 27U-class CubeSat or an ESPA-Class micro-satellite. Low fabrication and launch costs enable a LEO sunsynchronous sounding constellation that would collectively provide frequent IR vertical profiles and vertically resolved atmospheric motion vector wind observations in the troposphere. These observations are highly complementary to present and emerging environmental observing systems, and would provide a combination of high vertical and horizontal resolution not provided by any other environmental observing system currently in operation. The spectral measurements that would be provided by MISTiC Winds are similar to those of NASA's AIRS that was built by BAE Systems and operates aboard the AQUA satellite. These new observations, when assimilated into high resolution numerical weather models, would revolutionize short-term and severe weather forecasting, save lives, and support key economic decisions in the energy, air transport, and agriculture arenasat much lower cost than providing these observations from geostationary orbit. In addition, this observation capability would be a critical tool for the study of transport processes for water vapor, clouds, pollution, and aerosols. Key remaining technical risks are being reduced through laboratory and airborne testing under NASA's Instrument Incubator Program.
Document ID
20170006199
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Maschhoff, K. R.
(BAE Systems Nashua, NH, United States)
Polizotti, J. J.
(BAE Systems Nashua, NH, United States)
Aumann, H. H.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Susskind, J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
July 7, 2017
Publication Date
August 28, 2016
Publication Information
Publication: SPIE Proceedings: CubeSats and NanoSats for Remote Sensing
Publisher: SPIE
Volume: 9978
Subject Category
Instrumentation And Photography
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN43937
Meeting Information
Meeting: SPIE CubeSats and NanoSats for Remote Sensing
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: August 28, 2016
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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