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RAMOS Near Term Observations RAMOS Near Term Observations Cynthia J. Beeler 1Visidyne, Inc. 10 Corporate Place, S. Bedford St. Burlington, MA 01803 617 273-2820 [email protected] Charles H. Humphrey1 [email protected] Andrew J. LePage1 [email protected] Mary E. Pitkanen1. [email protected] Orr Shepherd1 [email protected] Captain Barry Tilton SAF/RESPO 11781 Lee Jackson Highway, Suite 500 Fairfax, VA 22033 Pager: 800 759-8255 PIN: 2832955 [email protected] Abstract--The Russian American Observational dimensional background radiance and spatial Satellites (RAMOS) program is a joint US- structure statistics, and of obtaining the ability Russian experiment designed to collect to monitor environmental trends and specific simultaneous stereo imagery in the visible and atmospheric events, such as hurricanes. The IR wavelength regions in support of clutter intermediate goals of the RAMOS program and measurements and environmental monitoring. how they will be accomplished through these The classic RAMOS experiment utilizes near-term observations are discussed in this complementary sensors on board two dedicated, paper. The first set of assets used for these extended-lifetime satellites, an American observations is the NASA-owned WB-57 Observational Satellite (AOS) and a Russian aircraft for the U.S. and either one of two Observational Satellite (ROS), which are in the Russian satellites, Resource 1 or MIR. Two same low Earth orbit. In preparation for the simultaneous data collection events have launch of these dedicated satellites, the RAMOS occurred thus far. The U.S. sensors include an program is currently making use of existing US infrared multi-spectral imager, IR imagers, and and Russian assets in a series of near term visible cameras. The Russian satellites feature observations. These observations are designed visible line scanners, visible and IR imagers, to accomplish the milestones that lead RAMOS and video cameras. Future U.S. assets to be to its goals of developing a data base of three- used for RAMOS near-term observations include the Midcourse Space Experiment prior to the implementation of the classic (MSX) and Miniature Sensor Technology RAMOS experiment, would greatly increase the Integration (MSTI 3) satellites. This paper success and utility of RAMOS. includes discussions of both recent and future RAMOS near-term data collections and These milestones are being accomplished by a analysis, and presents data collected during the series of RAMOS near-term observations that recent simultaneous measurements. make use of existing U.S. and Russian assets. The goals of these near-term observations are TABLE OF CONTENTS both programmatic and technical. The programmatic goal refers to the fact that the 1. INTRODUCTION Russian and American teams have to establish 2. RAMOS NEAR-TERM GOALS and exercise the mission operations procedures 3. U.S. INSTRUMENTATION as well as work out the details of the 4. RUSSIAN INSTRUMENTATION data/technology transfer procedures and 5. SIMULTANEOUS DATA COLLECTION requirements in order to insure successful 6. DATA ANALYSIS PLANS simultaneous data collection. The technical 7. FUTURE OBSERVATIONS goals are to demonstrate the ability to create 8. CONCLUSIONS three-dimensional scenes from imagery acquired by disparate sensors by first exercising the techniques on data collected over well-surveyed 1. INTRODUCTION topographical areas, and then by applying these The Russian American Observational Satellites verified techniques to data containing high (RAMOS) program has the unique capability of altitude clouds and other sources of spatial real-time stereoscopic measurements in both the structure. visible and infrared wavelengths. Therefore, RAMOS will be able to collect valuable 2. RAMOS NEAR-TERM GOALS scientific data on a number of dynamical The RAMOS program has a well-defined set of atmospheric phenomena. RAMOS has a science objectives that the team has broken mission that includes both measurement of down into a series of intermediate goals to be atmospheric phenomena and environmental accomplished by sets of near-term observations. monitoring. The program’s scientific objectives These goals will aid in the development and are to demonstrate the ability to measure testing of processing and analysis techniques to hurricane intensities, cloud polarization and be applied to the data. In addition, they will solar albedo, with the use of stereo imagery, as provide valuable information to be used as input well as to collect an Earth backgrounds data [1]. to the design of the classic RAMOS experiment and sensors. The “classic” RAMOS experiment [2], consists of two dedicated satellites, the American The first set of goals for these near-term Observation Satellite (AOS) and the Russian observations is to construct stereoscopic Observation Satellite (ROS), designed imagery from simultaneously acquired data specifically to meet the requirements dictated by using existing U.S. and Russian sensors (visible the RAMOS science objectives. However there and infrared). The ability to construct such are several milestones, which, if accomplished three-dimensional scenes will be demonstrated in steps: first by observing sites with well using available instrumentation. surveyed terrain structure, i.e., cloud-free mountain peaks, and then by observing sites, or 3. U.S. INSTRUMENTATION scenes that consist of a combination of The near-term observations planned for structured clouds and terrain. The successful RAMOS will make use of various existing U.S. demonstration of the stereoscopic processing sensors and sensor platforms. The three most technique, using these types of observation accessible platforms for these simultaneous scenes, will lend more confidence to the ability measurements are the NASA-owned ARES to create three-dimensional scenes of cloud WB-57F aircraft, BMDO-sponsored MSX (Mid- decks and hurricanes complete with accurate Course Space Experiment) satellite, and the Air cloud height and hurricane intensity Force’s MSTI (Miniature Sensor Technology information. Integration) satellite. Each of these platforms will provide high resolution, multi-spectral Three-dimensional structured scenes in the imagery in the infrared wavelengths. A visible can be used as a first approximation in description of these platforms and their on board determining the source of infrared structure, i.e., sensors is provided below. cloud temperatures can be inferred from cloud altitude. However, some of the near-term ARES observations are designed to include measurements in the LWIR thermal wavelength The Airborne Remote Earth Sensing (ARES) regions, allowing for more accurate cloud Program is the only high altitude short/medium temperature determination, which will aid in wave infrared (S/MWIR) spectral collection spatial structure analysis. capability currently operating in the US. The program consists of a WB-57F aircraft operated Part of the stereoscopic demonstration is the for the Air Force by NASA Johnson Space ability to merge data collected by disparate Center, Houston, and a Lockheed Martin (LM) sensors. For example, the sensor imagery will IR spectral imager, operated by LM's Palo Alto have different footprint sizes and resolutions, Research Labs and the Air Force. and will represent radiation in different wavelength regions. These corrections are non- Platform Overview--The WB-57 airplane is trivial, and the techniques for handling them capable of normal flight operation between will be refined during the data analysis of the 8,000 - 65,000 feet, with about 7 hours of flight near-term observations. duration. It is a highly modified version of the old B-57 Canberra used in Vietnam. General These RAMOS near-term goals also include test Dynamics modified the aircraft in the early experiments for the cloud polarization 1960's for high altitude (65,000 ft) missions. experiment, wind field at altitude The WB-57F has a crew of two (Pilot & measurements, and other dynamic atmospheric Navigator/Payload Operator), permitting sensor phenomena. All of these near-term goals will be operation by a dedicated flight crewmember. accomplished by the successful acquisition, Aircraft main bay payload volume is 250 ft3, processing, and analysis of simultaneous data and it can carry up to a 4000 lb payload. over carefully selected observational sites and Additionally, the nose can carry a 250 lb under the appropriate observational conditions payload (volume - 25 ft3). The main bay is unpressurized, but the nose bay can be either as infrared focal plane data. The continuous pressurized or not. Currently two flyable WB- imaging sequences from the infrared imaging 57's exist, the other one is owned by the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, CO. Sensor Overview--The ARES sensor may be operated as either a 4-band radiometer or as a 75-channel imaging spectrometer in the 2.0 - 6.4 μm IR bands. These spectral bands are given in Table 1 along with the noise equivalent spectral radiance. This system has an Indium doped Silicon 45 90 element focal plane, and operates at a 10, 20, 40 or 80 Hz data rates. Figure 1 ARES Spectrometer Operation Mode Data is collected and recorded digitally at an tracker and the RTDS (Real Time Display instantaneous dynamic range of 12 bits. System displays IR focal plane image) are recorded onto their own systems which include Operating Modes--As stated previously, the separate VHS tape recorders. Further, the sensor has two operating modes. The output of the payload operator's video monitor, radiometer mode makes use of two filter wheels, which displays the output chosen from either one with four narrow bandpass filters and the one of two visible cameras (wide FOV black other with four neutral density filters plus an and white & narrow NTSC color FOV) , the IR open position. A rotation between filter camera, or the RTDS, is recorded in-flight onto combinations requires one second. The its own VHS recorder. spectrometer mode (Figure 1) uses optical scanning of the image across a fixed reflecting Fields-of-view--Both the radiometer and slit. The slit image is spectrally dispersed by a spectrometer make use of the same 45 90 bi-prism and the resulting 75 spectral channels pixel focal plane.
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