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Computation of Fiber Orientation in X-Ray Micro-Tomography Reconstructions
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Satellite Orbital Drag During Magnetic Storms
We investigate satellite orbital drag effects at lowEarth orbit associated with thermosphere heating during magnetic storms caused by coronal mass ejections. CHAllenge Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) and Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) neutral density data are used to compute orbital drag. Stormtoquiet density comparisons are performed with background densities obtained by the JacchiaBowman 2008 (JB2008) empirical model. Our storms are grouped in different categories regarding their intensities as indicated by minimum values of the SYMH index. We then perform superposed epoch analyses with storm main phase onset as zero epoch time. In general, we find that orbital drag effects are larger for CHAMP (lower altitudes) in comparison to GRACE (higher altitudes). Results show that storm time drag effects manifest first at high latitudes, but for extreme storms, particularly observed by GRACE, stronger orbital drag effects occur during early main phase at low/equatorial latitudes, probably due to heating propagation from high latitudes. We find that storm time orbital decay along the satellites' path generally increases with storm intensity, being stronger and faster for the most extreme events. For these events, orbital drag effects decrease faster probably due to elevated cooling effects caused by nitric oxide, which introduce modeled density uncertainties during storm recovery phase. Errors associated with total orbit decay introduced by JB2008 are generally the largest for the strongest storms and increase during storm times, particular during recovery phases. We discuss the implication of these uncertainties for the prediction of collision between space objects at lowEarth orbit during magnetic storms
Calculated Transmission Using a Portable Spectroreflectometer
Under normal circumstances, a spectrophotometer is used to measure transmission of material samples. However, a sample may be too large to fit into the spectrophotometer chamber, or a field inspection may be required. This Technical Publication describes the procedure for using measurements made with a portable spectroreflectometer to calculate transmission. A similar procedure is used to calculate infrared transmission using measurements from a portable infrared reflectometer
Episodes of Particle Ejection from the Surface of the Active Asteroid (101955) Bennu
Active asteroids are those that show evidence of ongoing mass loss. We report repeated instances of particle ejection from the surface of (101955) Bennu, demonstrating that it is an active asteroid. The ejection events were imaged by the OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and SecurityRegolith Explorer) spacecraft. For the three largest observed events, we estimated the ejected particle velocities and sizes, event times, source regions, and energies. We also determined the trajectories and photometric properties of several gravitationally bound particles that orbited temporarily in the Bennu environment. We consider multiple hypotheses for the mechanisms that lead to particle ejection for the largest events, including rotational disruption, electrostatic lofting, ice sublimation, phyllosilicate dehydration, meteoroid impacts, thermal stress fracturing, and secondary impacts
Joint Assimilation of the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder and Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite Limb Profiler Data: Towards a Reanalysis of Stratospheric Ozone for Trend Studies
The future trajectory of the stratospheric ozone recovery will be sensitive to greenhouse gas concentrations through thermal control of chemical loss and via stratospheric circulation changes. The latter in particular is subject to considerable uncertainty meriting continuing monitoring of the evolution of ozone throughout the depth of the stratosphere. Atmospheric reanalyses utilize the data assimilation methodology to obtain comprehensive representations of the state of the atmosphere, including its composition, on multidecadal scales by combining diverse measurements from satellite-borne and conventional data sources. Systematic biases among these various data types pose a challenge for assimilation by introducing spurious discontinuities that affect the utility of reanalyses for studies of long-term variability and trends.In this presentation we will outline an approach, developed at NASA's Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO), that allows joint assimilation of stratospheric ozone profiles from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on EOS Aura and the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite Limb Profiler (OMPS-LP) currently flying on the Suomi-NPP satellite with future missions projected into the 2030s. We will demonstrate that a simple offline correction significantly reduces biases between MLS and OMPS-LP ozone data providing a strategy for generating a long-term vertically resolved homogenized representation of stratospheric ozone in future reanalyses. One novel element of our approach compared to previous GMAO reanalysis is the use of a version of the Goddard Earth Observing System model with full stratospheric chemistry. We will show selected comparisons of MLS and OMPS-LP assimilation experiments with independent ozonesonde and satellite data as well as two examples of process-based evaluation focused on the 2016 QBO disruption and Arctic winter ozone loss focusing on the relative performance of the MLS and OMPS-LP analyses
Explore Air Quality from NASA Satellite Data
Space-borne earth observation has been important to monitor the earth condition and played acritical role in validating other instruments or modeling's outputs. However, the data from satellite earth observation are usually very complex in terms of science contents, formats, and spatiotemporal granularities, making them difficult to use from many aspects. NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC), one of the 12 official NASA data centers, archives and distributes rich collections of data from multiple satellite missions and model results. The GES DISC is also the official archive center for data from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) aboard NASA's Aura mission since 2004. Recently, the GES DISChas been evolving and improving its data management and services in order to promote NASA data to be easily discovered and accessed, as well as to facilitate interoperability. We'll show in this presentation how to explore and analyze NASA earth observation data for air quality through a suite of user-friendly tools - from Giovanni to ArcGIS, demonstrating in using this set of tools prepares us to serve the Sentinel 5P TROPOMI to the community
Implementing Polar Projections with OGC Services for the Enhancement of AIRS NRT Visualization in LANCE
The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) NRT product is one important element in the Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for EOS (LANCE). The LANCE processing of AIRS NRT products and the image generation are performed at the NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC). The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) services are being utilized to access AIRS NRT images. The ongoing AIRS NRT imagery enhancement work includes adding a new set of the images in polar projections. Polar projections are commonly used for mapping Antarctica and Arctic regions. We have implemented more precise south polar (EPSG:3031) projection and north polar (EPSG:3413) projection making our OGC service instances more useful and interoperable. Thus, AIRS NRT data can be easily accessed and integrated with other applications. It greatly increases the impact of our data on researches in polar regions.In this presentation, we will introduce the optimized processing workflow for OGC services from data access with spatial-temporal index to data visualization with different SLD, and demonstrate how to use open source software to provide more precise map images in polar projections
Rapid Generation of Flood Maps Using Dual-Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery
Rapid generation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) based flood extent and flood depth maps provide valuable data in disaster response efforts. We present a simple but powerful method using dual polarimetric SAR imagery. A RGB false-color map is generated using pre- and post-flooding imagery, allowing operators to distinguish between existing standing water in pre-flooding data and recently flooded areas. This method works very well in areas of standing water, while large omission errors can be seen in urban areas due to the double-bounce effect. A flood depth map is also estimated by using an external DEM. Compared with FEMA flood product, flood water depth from the proposed method showed low bias with small dispersion. This automatic flood mapping system will contribute to the rapid assessment for disaster relief efforts
Small Satellite Industrial Base Study: Foundational Findings
This report documents findings from a Small Satellite (SmallSat) Industrial Base Study conducted by The Aerospace Corporation between November 2018 and September 2019. The primary objectives of this study were a) to gain a better understanding of the SmallSat communitys technical practices, engineering approaches, requirements flow-downs, and common processes and b) identify insights and recommendations for how the government can further capitalize on the strengths and capabilities of SmallSat offerings. In the context of this study, SmallSats are understood to weigh no more than 500 kg, as described in State of the Art Small Spacecraft Technology, NASA/TP-2018- 220027, December 2018. CubeSats were excluded from this study to avoid overlap and duplication of recently completed work or other studies already under way. The team also touched on differences between traditional space-grade and the emerging mid-grade and other non-space, alternate-grade EEEE (electrical, electronic, electromechanical, electro-optical) piece part categories. Finally, the participants sought to understand the potential effects of increased use of alternate-grade parts on the traditional space-grade industrial base. The study team was keenly aware that there are missions for which non-space grade parts currently are infeasible for the foreseeable future. National security, long-duration and high-reliability missions intolerant of risk are a few examples. The team sought to identify benefits of alternative parts and approaches that can be harnessed by the government to achieve greater efficiencies and capabilities without impacting mission success