Title :
SMAP Observatory configuration, from concept to preliminary design
Author :
Eremenko, Alexander ; Kastner, Jason ; Hoffman, Pamela
Author_Institution :
Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol. / NASA, Pasadena, CA, USA
Abstract :
SMAP (Soil Moisture Active and Passive) is a scientific mission to provide global mapping of Earth soil moisture and freeze/thaw state. In order to accomplish this mission the Observatory accommodates two primary Instruments L-band (1.26 GHz) Radar and L-band (1.4 GHz) Radiometer. Both Instruments use a shared 14.6 RPM spinning Antenna System with 6 m diameter deployable Reflector. The key challenges for the Observatory configuration are accommodation of the primary Instruments (Radar and Radiometer), and the supporting subsystems, all the while meeting all operations, pointing, environment requirements, and launch vehicle accommodation. This paper will describe the evolution of the SMAP Observatory configuration and major trade-offs from conceptual to preliminary design.
Keywords :
geophysical equipment; radiometers; radiometry; spaceborne radar; 14.6 RPM spinning Antenna System; 6 m diameter deployable Reflector; Earth soil moisture; L-band Radar; L-band Radiometer; SMAP Observatory configuration; Soil Moisture Active and Passive; freeze state; frequency 1.26 GHz; frequency 1.4 GHz; thaw state; Earth; Instruments; L-band; Observatories; Radar antennas; Radiometry; Reflector antennas; SMAP mission; Soil moisture; Spinning;
Conference_Titel :
Aerospace Conference, 2010 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Big Sky, MT
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-3887-7
Electronic_ISBN :
1095-323X
DOI :
10.1109/AERO.2010.5446761