The outer layers of Earth's atmosphere hold many secrets yet to
be uncovered and three scientific instruments will fly soon on the
FASTSAT-HSV01 satellite and seek to uncover them to benefit us here
on Earth. Known as MINI-ME, PISA and TTI, these instruments
recently passed a series of important final tests to prove their
readiness for spaceflight.
These instruments were conceived and built at NASA's Goddard
Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and were integrated to the
satellite and tested at NASA's Marshall Spaceflight Center,
Huntsville, Ala.
MINI-ME, acronym for Miniature Imager for Neutral Ionospheric
atoms and Magnetospheric Electrons, is a low energy neutral atom
imager which will detect neutral atoms formed in the plasma
population of the Earth's outer atmosphere to improve global space
weather prediction. Low energy neutral atom imaging is a technique
first pioneered at Goddard which allows scientists to observe
remotely various trapped charged particle populations around Earth
that we would normally only be able to observe in-situ through
direct instrument contact with the particles.
Michael Collier, Principal Investigator for the MINI-ME
instrument at NASA Goddard said, "The satellite has gone through
vibration, thermal, and Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) tests
and everything looks great. The MINI-ME instrument is performing as
expected."
PISA is an acronym for the Plasma Impedance Spectrum Analyzer,
which will test a new measurement technique for the thermal
electron populations in the ionosphere, and their density
structuring, which can interfere with or scatter radio signals used
for communication and navigation. PISA will tell scientists on
Earth when and where the ionosphere becomes structured or
turbulent. That will give us better predictions of how space
weather will affect GPS signals.
Doug Rowland, PISA's Principal Investigator at NASA Goddard
said, "PISA has completed the same tests that the Mini-ME endured
and has just passed powered Electromagnetic Interference Test. PISA
is on track for spacecraft to be packed up and delivered to the
launch site." The EMI, vibration and thermal testing are critical
tests for all instruments and satellites before they're loaded
aboard a rocket and put into orbit.
The Thermospheric Temperature Imager, or TTI, will provide the
first global-scale measurements of thermospheric temperature
profiles in the 56-168 mile (90-270 km) region of the Earth's
atmosphere. The temperature profile sets the scale height of the
thermosphere which determines the density at orbital altitudes and
therefore the aerodynamic drag experienced by military
spacecraft.
John Sigwarth, TTI's Principal Investigator at NASA Goddard,
said "The TTI survived the satellite launch vibration levels, being
blasted with radio waves, and the TTI had a great thermal vacuum
test. We were able to characterize the operation of the instrument
in space-like environments and the TTI is ready for launch. We are
eagerly anticipating obtaining great data from orbit."
Electromagnetic Interference or EMI testing is done to ensure
that powerful ground-based communications and radar systems do not
cause interference on the satellite or instrument systems.
Vibration testing is an important part of the testing process,
because when the rocket carrying the satellite lifts off and
travels through Earth's atmosphere it experiences intense
vibrations. Successful vibration testing assures scientists and
engineers that their instrument will remain intact and fully
functional after launch.
Thermal testing is also critical, because of the extreme
temperatures in space. Scientists need to be sure that the
instruments will maintain function at extreme temperatures, from
the extreme heat the rocket carrying the satellite will experience
during launch and when it travels through Earth's atmosphere into
the cold void of space.
"With the completion of the last phase of environmental testing
of the integrated FASTSAT-HSV01 spacecraft, our team is focused on
readying the satellite and its six science and technology
instruments, for its near term shipment to Kodiak, Alaska, and for
an on time launch no earlier than May 28, 2010," said FASTSAT
Project Manager Mark Boudreaux at NASA Marshall.
"FASTSAT-HSV" means "Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology
Satellite, Huntsville" The development, integration, test and
operations of the three instruments is a collaborative effort
between NASA Goddard, NASA Marshall, and the U.S. Naval Academy,
Annapolis, Md.
FASTSAT-HSV01 will be flying a total of six instruments approved
by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Space Experiments Review
Board multi-spacecraft/payload mission named STP-S26, which is
executed by the DoD Space Test Program (STP) at the Space
Development and Test Wing (SDTW), Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
which is a unit of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.
The mission was designated S26 to correspond to the 26th small
launch vehicle mission in STP's more than 40 year history of flying
DoD space experiments. The mission will launch four satellites and
three cubesats into low earth orbit.
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