NOAA EON-IR CubeSat Study for Operational Infrared Soundings
Session
Session 8: Instruments/Science 1
Abstract
NOAA is conducting a study with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to investigate the technological readiness of a CubeSat-based temperature and water vapor sensor design. The sensor, if deployed in space, will help mitigate a potential gap in afternoon polar-orbiting sounder data. This technology may also support future NOAA operational missions to measure temperature and water vapor profiles in the lower troposphere. The sensor concept, called the Earth Observing Nanosatellite - IR (EON-IR), is a low cost-to-orbit way to mitigate a potential gap in data from the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) instrument on the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) spacecraft. EON-IR is a planned follow-on mission to the NASA JPL CubeSat Infrared Atmospheric Sounder (CIRAS) mission that will measure upwelling infrared radiation of the Earth in the Midwave Infrared (MWIR) region of the spectrum from space on a CubeSat. This presentation will cover the findings of study in the following areas: (A) increase reliability commensurate with a mission of two years in length or longer (B) examine the ability to provide full swath scanning (C) improve the EON-IR thermal/mechanical design (D) identify drivers and limitations to expand the EON-IR pathfinder channel capability to CrIS sensor capabilities. The presentation will detail the findings and the path forward for an NOAA EON-IR mission for gap mitigation. Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) centers worldwide have demonstrated the value of hyperspectral infrared sounders to improving weather forecasts. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on the NASA Earth Observing System Aqua Spacecraft was the first hyperspectral infrared sounder to be used for operational forecast improvement. IR sounder radiances are assimilated into Global Circulation Models and NWP centers worldwide including the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) and the UK Met Office.
Presentation
NOAA EON-IR CubeSat Study for Operational Infrared Soundings
NOAA is conducting a study with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to investigate the technological readiness of a CubeSat-based temperature and water vapor sensor design. The sensor, if deployed in space, will help mitigate a potential gap in afternoon polar-orbiting sounder data. This technology may also support future NOAA operational missions to measure temperature and water vapor profiles in the lower troposphere. The sensor concept, called the Earth Observing Nanosatellite - IR (EON-IR), is a low cost-to-orbit way to mitigate a potential gap in data from the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) instrument on the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) spacecraft. EON-IR is a planned follow-on mission to the NASA JPL CubeSat Infrared Atmospheric Sounder (CIRAS) mission that will measure upwelling infrared radiation of the Earth in the Midwave Infrared (MWIR) region of the spectrum from space on a CubeSat. This presentation will cover the findings of study in the following areas: (A) increase reliability commensurate with a mission of two years in length or longer (B) examine the ability to provide full swath scanning (C) improve the EON-IR thermal/mechanical design (D) identify drivers and limitations to expand the EON-IR pathfinder channel capability to CrIS sensor capabilities. The presentation will detail the findings and the path forward for an NOAA EON-IR mission for gap mitigation. Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) centers worldwide have demonstrated the value of hyperspectral infrared sounders to improving weather forecasts. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on the NASA Earth Observing System Aqua Spacecraft was the first hyperspectral infrared sounder to be used for operational forecast improvement. IR sounder radiances are assimilated into Global Circulation Models and NWP centers worldwide including the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) and the UK Met Office.
