Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
CONTENTS
For Release:
Dick McCormack
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. IMMEDIATE
(Phone: 2 02/75 5-8 58 3)
Frank Bristow
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
(Phone: 213/354-5011)
-more-
-2-
-more-
-3-
-more-
-4-
-more-
-5-
-more-
-6-
-more-
-7-
MISSION DESCRIPTION
-more-
-8-
MEASUREMENT 1 RANGE 1 PRKISION/ACCURACY 1 RESOCUIION, Irm I SPACIAL GRID, lun 1 TEMPORAL GRID
GEOID 5cm-MOm
LESS M A N
TOPOGRAPHY
SURGES, lOcm - 10m
<* 20 cm
I
1 . 6 - 12
I
1
-lo
6 MONTHS
MICROWAVE
RADIOMETER '- ds i2 m/i OR *lo% 50 50
36 h TO 95%
COVERAGE
SURFACE
WINDS f 2 m/a OR 10%
50 100 36 h TO 95%
COVERAGE
f 20.
I I
HEIGHT ALTIMETER 0.5 - 25 m i0.5 TO 1 .O m OR *lo% 1.6 - 12 NADIR ONLY
GRAVITY 1/14d NEAR
WAMS CONTINENTAL
U.S.
RELATIM
I
V61R I -2 -35OC
1.5'
I
1
-5
I
I 36h
I 1
ABSOLUTE RADIOMETER CLEAR WEATHER 2. -5
SURFACE I I
TEMPERATURE
MICROWAVE -2-35.C 10 I
RADIOMETER ALL WEATHER
1 .so
100
I loo
36 h
- 5 km 36h
I
1
SEA ICE
EXTENT
I MICROWAVE
RADIOMETER I 10-15 h I 10-15 I 10-15 36h
t25 m 25 m I
1 /1 4NEAR
t25 m 25 m C O N 1I N E NTAL
U.S.
ICEBERGS I I >25m
sHous~ V6lR
cLouDs# RADIOMETER 36 h
OCEAN ISLANDS
FEATURES
Table 1
-more-
qa SEASAT-n 3
- SEASAT-A P,
36 HR ORBITAL COVERAGE 36 HR ORBITAL COVERAGE
12-24 HRS COVERAGE
0-12 HRS COVERAGE
-10-
-more-
SEASAT-A
STATION COVERAGE
Figure 2
80
-80 L I U’
I
0 180
SEASAT-A
24 hour GROUND TRACE
I
P
h)
I
Figure 3
-13-
-more-
-14-
-more-
-15-
SCIENCE RATIONALE
-more-
-17-
-more-
-18-
-more-
-20-
-more-
-22-
-more-
-23-
-more-
-24-
Orbital Dynamics
The very accurate tracking and altimetric systems em-
ployed in the Seasat-A program will lead to considerable re-
finements in the science of orbital dynamics. The effects
of high-order gravity perturbations will be better under-
stood and accounted for. Non-gravitational perturbations
such as those due to solar radiation pressure and residual
atmospheric drag will be determined with increased accuracy.
One result will be improved orbit determination and predic-
tion models for other Earth-orbiting satellites.
Engineering Science
A high technology system such as a spacecraft and the
associated ground facilities always brings along with it a
number of important developments in engineering science and
technology. While it is difficult to specify exactly what
will be the yield of Seasat-A in this regard, it is safe to
speculate that in the areas of microwave sensors, in laser
and radar tracking technology, and perhaps in data handling
and dissemination, significant advances are to be expected.
It is likely that other areas in space technology will be
upgraded during the program, as well.
-more-
-26-
THE SPACECRAFT
- more -
-27-
SCATTEROMETER
SYNTHETIC APERTURE
RADAR ANTENNA
ANTENNA No. 1
MULT I-CHANNEL
MICROWAVE RADIOMETER
VlRR RADIOMETER LASER RETROREFLECTOR
Figure 4
-28-
Power
The S e a s a t - A p o w e r s u b s y s t e m s u p p l i e s a l l e l e c t r i c a l
power t o t h e s a t e l l i t e by g e n e r a t i n g , c o n v e r t i n g and switch-
i n g t h e power.
Primary power s o u r c e i s a p a i r o f s o l a r a r r a y s genera-
t i n g a b o u t 1 , 0 0 0 w a t t s a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e m i s s i o n ,
v a r y i n g t h r o u g h o u t t h e m i s s i o n w i t h a minimum of 700 w a t t s .
The p a n e l s , r o t a t a b l e on one a x i s , s u p p o r t 1 4 . 5 s q u a r e m
( 1 5 6 s q u a r e f t . ) of s o l a r c e l l s .
D a t a Svstem
- more -
-29-
- more -
-30-
Encoded i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l i n d i c a t e v o l t a g e s , p r e s s u r e s ,
t e m p e r a t u r e s and o t h e r v a l u e s measured by t h e s p a c e c r a f t
t e l e m e t r y s e n s o r s as w e l l as payload s e n s o r d a t a which can
be t r a n s l a t e d l a t e r i n t o g e o p h y s i c a l measurements.
I n r e a l t i m e o p e r a t i o n , d a t a i s s e n t t o one of two
t a p e r e c o r d e r s and t o t h e t r a n s m i t t e r , s i m u l t a n e o u s l y , a t
25 k i l o b i t s p e r second. During p l a y b a c k , one t a p e r e c o r d e r
modulates t h e downlink a t 800 kbps w h i l e t h e o t h e r recor-
der i s s t o r i n g d a t a f o r playback. The 3 2 : l playback-re-
corded r a t i o allows more t h a n t w o o r b i t s of d a t a (EO0 m i n -
u t e s ) t o be p l a y e d back t o a STDN s t a t i o n i n l e s s t h a n
seven minutes -- e a s i l y accomplished i n s i n g l e s t a t i o n p a s s .
T r a c k i n g The S p a c e c r a f t
- more -
-31-
Attitude Control
The a s c e n t p o r t i o n of t h e a t t i t u d e c o n t r o l system
p r o v i d e s s t a b i l i z a t i o n of t h e Seasat a f t e r A t l a s s e p a r a t i o n
and d u r i n g t w o f i r i n g s of t h e Agena e n g i n e and c o n t r o l s
d u r a t i o n of t h e e n g i n e burns.
Following o r b i t a l i n s e r t i o n , it a l s o o r i e n t s t h e
s a t e l l i t e from nose-forward t o nose-down and p r o v i d e s
s t a b i l i z a t i o n d u r i n g deployment of a n t e n n a s and s o l a r ar-
r a y s = These f u n c t i o n s a r e performed u s i n g h y d r a z i n e r e a c -
t i o n c o n t r o l t h r u s t e r s f o r a t t i t u d e c o n t r o l and a gyro
r e f e r e n c e u n i t as one a t t i t u d e r e f e r e n c e , augmented by
h o r i z o n s e n s o r s f o r a s h o r t p e r i o d p r i o r t o nose-down.
A t w o t a n k h y d r a z i n e s u p p l y f e e d s s e t s of o r b i t a d j u s t
and r e a c t i o n c o n t r o l t h r u s t e r s .
High-mode t h r u s t e r s , 53.4-newton ( 1 2 l b . ) are used d u r i n g
a s c e n t . For o r b i t a d j u s t maneuvers, t w o 2 2 . 2 - N ( 5 - l b . )
t h r u s t e r s are mounted i n t h e Agena forward s e c t i o n so t h a t
t h r u s t i s a p p l i e d i n e i t h e r d i r e c t i o n alonq t h e o r b i t a l
a x i s . During o r b i t a d j u s t p e r i o d s , l o w mode r e a c t i o n con-
t r o l t h r u s t e r s (1.8-N o r . 4 l b . ) maintain s a t e l l i t e attitude.
referenced t o t h e gyro u n i t .
- more -
-32-
Sensor p o i n t i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s i n c l u d e c o n t r o l t o an ac-
c u r a c y of .5 d e g r e e i n r o l l , p i t c h and yaw and t e l e m e t e r e d
d a t a on s a t e l l i t e o r i e n t a t i o n t o an accuracy of .2-degree
i n a l l axes. Scanwheels p r o v i d e p i t c h and r o l l r e f e r e n c e s
viewing t h e E a r t h ' s h o r i z o n and p i t c h and r o l l f i n e con-
t r o l . Y a w a t t i t u d e i s m a i n t a i n e d by gyrocompassing. Sun
s e n s o r d a t a i s used t o d e t e r m i n e a c c u r a t e l y yaw o r i e n t a t i o n ,
b u t i s n o t used f o r c o n t r o l . T h e scanwheels a r e mounted a t
t h e lower end o f t h e s e n s o r module n e a r a l l of t h e c r i t i c a l
a n t e n n a s . P i t c h momentum wheel and roll r e a c t i o n w h e e l are
l o c a t e d i n a s u p p o r t s t r u c t u r e above t h e s e n s o r module.
Excess momentum accumulated i n t h e wheels i s removed by pro-
v i d i n g a d j u s t i b l e t o r q u e on t h e s a t e l l i t e u s i n g e l e c t r o -
magnets which i n t e r a c t w i t h t h e E a r t h ' s magnetic f i e l d .
Sensor Module
The s e n s o r module i s a p l a t f o r m f o r t h e o p e r a t i o n o f
t h e f i v e s e n s o r s t o achieve t h e mission o b j e c t i v e s w i t h i n
t h e r e q u i r e d r e s o l u t i o n and accuracy. The s e n s o r s are l o -
cated i n p o s i t i o n s r e l a t i v e t o one a n o t h e r and t o t h e bea-
con, l a s e r r e t r o r e f l e c t o r and communications a n t e n n a s so
t h a t e a c h h a s an u n o b s t r u c t e d f i e l d o f view and e a c h
a c h i e v e s t h e r e q u i r e d p o i n t i n g and s c a n a n g l e . Mounting
p o s i t i o n s a l s o were selected t o p r e v e n t e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c
i n t e r f e r e n c e between m u l t i p l e r a d i a t i n g s o u r c e s .
The s e n s o r module's primary s t r u c t u r e i s a 25.4-cm
( 1 0 - i n . ) - d i a m e t e r aluminum a l l o y t u b u l a r m a s t t o which
equipment mounts are a t t a c h e d .
Two scanwheel assemblies are mounted n e a r t h e forward
end on t u b u l a r s u p p o r t s t o g i v e each u n i t a c l e a r v i e w o f
E a r t h ' s horizon.
The Radar A l t i m e t e r (ALT) i s mounted a t t h e end o f t h e
m a s t s t r u c t u r e -- n e a r e s t t h e E a r t h -- t h e one-meter d i a m e t e r
r e f l e c t o r a n t e n n a and RF u n i t on t h e forward end and t h e
s i g n a l p r o c e s s o r t o t h e s i d e . The r i n g of c o r n e r cube
q u a r t z r e f l e c t o r s f o r t h e l a s e r t r a c k i n g system s u r r o u n d s
t h e a l t i m e t e r a n t e n n a and RF e l e c t r o n i c s module.
- more -
-33-
T h e f i v e - c h a n n e l Scanning M u l t i f r e q u e n c y Microwave
Radiometer (SMMR) i s mounted as a s i n g l e u n i t on t h e s i d e
of t h e s e n s o r module s t r u c t u r e . T h e u n i t i n c l u d e s f i x e d
o f f s e t p a r a b o l i c r e f l e c t o r , s c a n mechanism and d i g i t a l pro-
cessor.
The S y n t h e t i c A p e r t u r e Radar (SAR) antenna and elec-
t r o n i c s a r e i n s t a l l e d n e a r t h e base of t h e s e n s o r module.
The huge SAR s e n s o r a n t e n n a i s i n e i g h t segments, f o l d e d
d u r i n g l a u n c h and deployed t o form a f l a t r e c t a n g u l a r ar-
r a y w i t h an area of 2 3 sq. m (245 sq. f t . ) The SAR down-
l i n k t r a n s m i t t e r i s mounted on t h e m a s t and i t s h e l i c a l
antenna i s deployed on a s h o r t boom.
- more -
-34-
PAYLOAD
Radar Altimeter
The Radar Altimeter traces a 2 to 10 km (1.25 to
6.25 mi.) wide path (dependent on surface roughness), on
a line directly below the satellite. The Radar Altimeter
measures average wave height to within 10 per cent over a range
of 2 to 20 m ( 6 to 65 ft.) and the height of t'he spacecraft
above the ocean to a precision of 10 cm ( 4 in.).
The height measurements should allow determination of
sea-surface topographic features that correspond to ocean
tides, storm surges and currents.
The altimeter generates a 13.56 gigahertz chirp signal
at two kilowatts peak power. The signal is radiated to Earth
through a 1-m (39-in.) antenna that looks at the sub-spacecraft
point.
The reflected signal, when received at the spacecraft, is
amplified, converted from analog to digital and processed
digitally in the sensor.
That processing includes:
0 Acquisition and tracking of the returned signal;
Development of estimates of altitude and wave state;
Relaying the onboard measurements and other data for
transmission to Earth for additional processing.
The Radar Altimeter uses 177 watts and weighs 9 3 . 8 kg
(206.8 Ib.). Dr. Byron Tapley of the University of Texas
is team leader.
INSTRUMENT SCIENCE
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
SATELLITE
I
w
a,
I
SURFACE TRUTH
STDN - S P A C E F L I G H T T R A C K I N G AN
DATA NETWORK
GSFC - G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T CENTER USER ANALY S IS
DATA DISSEMINATION
FNWC - FLEET N U M E R I C A L WEATHER C E N T R A L ECON. VERIFICATION EXPMTS.
-39-
- more -
-41-
-more-
MAJOR LAUNCH EVENTS FOR ATLAS F/SEASAT-A MISSION
Altitude
Event Time Kilometers - Miles
Liftoff 0 0 0
A T L A S VEWER PIIASE
t 1 , 4 0 0 LE THRUST
--?
__ ~--flczE~
5.5 SEC
8
&--
-
(CUDBIU T U 1 2 1
BACKUP
SPACE POSITION
RANGE SAFETY COMMA'D
LHK
P n o m u m DWLETICU
COMMAND
BACWR
A
VLCO Iv) VLiwrfn
ENGINE CUTOFF
(T+30S 5 NOMHAL)
GUIDANCE DlSCWlT(S+lq
ATLAS p n o c n a u m (1119 1)
RANGE SAFZTY COMMAND UNK
(V*o ZIMAIN FUEL CUTOFT)
".
BACKUh
I
WAMTIOH V t 5 . S
smcI wsIncu
MCUIP ATLAS?Iux;IIAMMER T430
T R A J E C T O R Y P R O F I L E F O R THE A T L A S F I S E A S A T - A M I S S I O N
FAIRING .
L IFT-OFF
AGENA
90' ROLL
,/ DUMP PROPELLANT
DURING 1/3 ORBIT
COAST
?*
B \
'\
/J
GYRO
COMPASS
CONTROL
F l i q h t Vehicle Configuration
4
LMSC -52.5
1 2 4 FAIRING
LMSC 247.0
A-
FAIRING SEPARATION PLANE
LMSC 442.44
FIELD
LMSCU7.0 JO~N~
-T LMSC466.0 FIELD
MODIFIED ATLAS-F
/-BOOSTER
34 M
b Figure 6
GDC 1309.98
. .
-46-
-more-
-47-
Radar Altimeter
Byron D. Tapley, Team Leader University of Texas
Craig L. Purdy Wallops Flight Center
H. Michael Byrne Pacific Marine Environmental
Laboratory, NOAA
J. M. Diamante Naval Oceanographic Service
Bernard H. Chovitz Naval Oceanographic Service,
NOAA
-more-
-48-
-more-
-49-
Radar Scatterometer
Willard Pierson, Team Leader City University of New York
Ledolph Baer Environmental Monitoring and
Prediction, NOAA
Glenn Flittner National Weather Service
Peter G. Black National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
Isidore Halberstam Jet Propulsion Laboratory
W. Linwood Jones Langley Research Center
Richard K. Morre University of Kansas
Jack Ernst National Environmental
Satellite Service
W. L. Grantham Langley Research Center
-more-
-50-
-more-
-51-
NASA Headquarters
Dr. Anthony J. Calio Associate Administrator for
Space and Terrestrial
Applications
Dr. Lawrence R. Greenwood Director of Environmental
Observations Systems
S. Walter McCandless, Jr. Program Manager
Norman Pozinsky Acting Associate Administrator
for Space Tracking and Data
Systems
John F. Yardley Associate Administrator for
Space Transportation Systems
Joseph B. Mahon Director, Expendable Launch
Vehicles
-more-
-52-
Goddard Space F l i g h t C e n t e r
L e w i s Research C e n t e r
Department of Defense
Department of T r a n s p o r t a t i o n
-more-
-53-
SEASAT-A CONTRACTORS
Satellite
Lockheed Missiles & Space Satellite System (bus and
Co., Inc. sensor modules): Project
Sunnyvale, Calif. Operations Support
Ball Brothers Research Corp. SAR Antenna
Aerospace Division
Boulder, Colo.
Bell Aerospace, Textron Rocket Engine
Buffalo, N.Y.
Hamilton Standard Division Thrusters
United Technologies Corp.
Windsor Locks, Conn.
Ithaco, Inc. Orbital Attitude Control
Ithaca, N.Y.
Motorola, Inc. Radio Transponder
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Odetics, Inc. Tape Recorders
Anaheim, Calif.
Pressure Systems, Inc. Hydrazine Tanks
Los Angeles, Calif.
Schaeffer Magnetics, Inc. Solar Array Drives
Chatsworth, Calif.
Sensor Svstems
Aerojet General Corp . SASS Antenna
El Monte, Calif.
Andersen Labs, Inc. ALT Radar Pulse Modulator
Bloomfield, Conn.
Applied Physics Laboratory ALT RF and Sensor Integration
Johns Hopkins University and Test, Digital Processing
Laurel, Md. Units and GSE; SAR Data Link
-more-
-54-
-end-