update on the noaa unmanned aerial systems (uas) demonstration james w. elkins 1, fred l. moore 1,2,...
TRANSCRIPT
Update on the NOAA Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Demonstration
James W. Elkins1, Fred L. Moore1,2, Dale F. Hurst1,2, Samuel J. Oltmans1, and David W. Fahey3
1NOAA/Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory (CMDL)**, Boulder, Colorado 80305 USA
2CIRES, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309 USA3NOAA/Aeronomy Laboratory (AL)**, Boulder, Colorado 80305 USA
**Effective 10/2/2005: CMDL, AL, and others form new super lab: Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) with Global Monitoring
Division (GMD) and Chemical Processes Division (CPD)
AVE Science Team Meeting, 20 September 2005
Computer Sciences Corporation, Lanham-Seabrook, MD
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Altair
• Wingspan 26.2 m (86 ft)
• Fuselage 11 m (36 ft)
• Max. Altitude 15.8 km (52 kft) [13.7 km (45 kft)]
• Endurance, max. 30+ hours [20 hours]
• Internal payload 300 kg (660 lbs.) [140 kg, 300 lbs.]
• Total weight 1361 kg (3000 lbs.)
• Engine Honeywell turboprop (TPE 331-10T)
• Typical speed 150 – 200 kts (77 – 103 m/s or 172 – 230 mph)
• Max Distance 10000 km [2700 - 3600 nm (5000 - 6640 km)]
• Unpressurized and no temperature control in payload bay
NOAA UAS Demo Payload
• GC/OZ (Elkins/Oltmans)• Ocean Color (Churnside)• Passive Microwave Vertical
Sounder (PMVS) H2O, temp (Klein)
• Mapping, Digital Camera System-DCS (Sellars)
• Marine Sanctuaries, Skyball- EO/IR (Jacob)
• Flight Planning (Rosenlof, Ray)
• Project Scientists (Fahey, Gasiewski)
• Project Managers (Aslaksen, Summers)
• NASA coordinator (Jennison)
1. Box weighs 22 kg (48 lbs.), 24.6 x 40.6 x 45.7 cm (9.7x16x18.1”), 45.6 liters2. Measures O3 once every 10 seconds (commercial unit 2B,Inc.)3. Measures N2O, SF6, CFC-11, CFC-12, halon-1211 once every 70 seconds. On board calibration.3. In the future, could measure( PAN, PPN) or (CO, H2, CH4) for tropospheric mission.
Compounds in red are measured by Aura Satellite Instruments.
NOAA/CMDL UAS Chromatograph for Atmospheric Trace Species (UCATS)
Update
• Eight successful flights (test)• UCATS (GC/OZ) worked on all
flights• Problems with Ku band modem
forced two postponements.• Return to flight in
October/November 2005• 8-10 hour test flight over the
ocean planned in early Oct.• Two flights planned (1) 20-hour
to Trinidad Head, California, and (2) 6-hour fight over Channel Islands
• NASA planning a UAV flight in 2007
NOAA Administrator VADM Lautenbacher during Media Day at GA Gray Butte, CA on 20 April 2005.
New Web Page http://uas.noaa.gov/altair/index.html
Altair Communications and Control Problem: Ku band satellite modem (loss of link>500 km)
Ku-band (over the horizon)