Abstract
The SCIFLI Hayabusa2 Airborne Reentry Observation Campaign (SHARC) resulted in the acquisition of spectral data from a reentering capsule-type spacecraft and results are presented here. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the Hayabusa2 probe in 2014 to collect samples from a C-type near-earth asteroid and return them to Earth. The Hayabusa2 sample return capsule (SRC) reentered the Earth’s atmosphere over Australia on 05 December 2020. The NASA Scientifically Calibrated In-FLight Imagery (SCIFLI) team equipped two aircraft with multiple sensors and 4-axis gimbal tracking systems to collect spectral data, aircraft positions, and sensor pointing information during the reentry. Data was successfully collected on all ten imaging spectrometers and when combined covered the UV-SWIR (300 to 1700nm) spectral range. The spectral signatures include thermal emission from the SRC and shock layer/wake emission from the ionized flowfield. These data will be used to validate selected NASA flowfield and radiance transport codes. As such, spectro-radiometrically calibrated data is required.
This paper provides a summary of the mission planning, flight operations, and the comprehensive calibration process which included pre-mission characterizations, in-flight star calibrations and post-mission calibrations. The measured signatures include traceable uncertainty bounds and the uncertainty analysis is presented. The calibrated data is shown, and interesting spectral features are discussed. Finally, the measured data is compared with the NASA model predictions.
SHARC Mission Operations, Spectro-Radiometric Calibration and Data Analysis
The SCIFLI Hayabusa2 Airborne Reentry Observation Campaign (SHARC) resulted in the acquisition of spectral data from a reentering capsule-type spacecraft and results are presented here. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the Hayabusa2 probe in 2014 to collect samples from a C-type near-earth asteroid and return them to Earth. The Hayabusa2 sample return capsule (SRC) reentered the Earth’s atmosphere over Australia on 05 December 2020. The NASA Scientifically Calibrated In-FLight Imagery (SCIFLI) team equipped two aircraft with multiple sensors and 4-axis gimbal tracking systems to collect spectral data, aircraft positions, and sensor pointing information during the reentry. Data was successfully collected on all ten imaging spectrometers and when combined covered the UV-SWIR (300 to 1700nm) spectral range. The spectral signatures include thermal emission from the SRC and shock layer/wake emission from the ionized flowfield. These data will be used to validate selected NASA flowfield and radiance transport codes. As such, spectro-radiometrically calibrated data is required.
This paper provides a summary of the mission planning, flight operations, and the comprehensive calibration process which included pre-mission characterizations, in-flight star calibrations and post-mission calibrations. The measured signatures include traceable uncertainty bounds and the uncertainty analysis is presented. The calibrated data is shown, and interesting spectral features are discussed. Finally, the measured data is compared with the NASA model predictions.