All 2015 Content
Session
Technical Session XII: Science/Mission Payloads
Abstract
Global measurements of vertically-resolved atmospheric wind profiles offer the potential for improved weather forecasts, including superior predictions of atmospheric wind patterns. A small-satellite constellation utilizing Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) instruments onboard 6U CubeSats can provide measurements of global tropospheric wind profiles from space at very low cost. These small satellites are called FTS CubeSats. The constellation consists of groups of three FTS CubeSats flying in formation and separated by a specified time delay. This geometry enables moisture-field measurements which can be combined to provide vertically-resolved profiles of the wind field on a global basis. This paper will focus on recent advances in the maturity of the FTS CubeSat concept which includes an update of the flight concept, test results from a prototype of the FTS CubeSat, and development of more effective wind extraction algorithms.
A Constellation of Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) CubeSats for Global Measurements of Three-Dimensional Winds
Global measurements of vertically-resolved atmospheric wind profiles offer the potential for improved weather forecasts, including superior predictions of atmospheric wind patterns. A small-satellite constellation utilizing Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) instruments onboard 6U CubeSats can provide measurements of global tropospheric wind profiles from space at very low cost. These small satellites are called FTS CubeSats. The constellation consists of groups of three FTS CubeSats flying in formation and separated by a specified time delay. This geometry enables moisture-field measurements which can be combined to provide vertically-resolved profiles of the wind field on a global basis. This paper will focus on recent advances in the maturity of the FTS CubeSat concept which includes an update of the flight concept, test results from a prototype of the FTS CubeSat, and development of more effective wind extraction algorithms.
