Current Measurement ParadigmPathway to the Vision

Current Measurement ParadigmPathway to the Vision

Aqua

Aqua InstrumentsAIRS - Atmospheric Infrared SounderAMSU - Advanced Microwave Sounding UnitAMSR - Advanced Microwave Scanning RadiometerCERES - Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy SystemHSB - Humidity Sounder for BrazilMODIS - Moderate-Resolution Imaging SpectroradiometerAura InstrumentsHIRDLS — High Resolution Dynamics Limb SounderMLS — Microwave Limb SounderOMI — Ozone Monitoring InstrumentTES — Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer

The current paradigm for space-based remote sensing relies upon frequency-specific measurements in pre-defined orbits with fixed or narrowly variable detection ranges. The suites of Earth observing instruments currently deployed or planned for deployment within the next three years typify this approach.

Aura

TES - Makes ozone measurement in cloud free regions

MODIS -Determines the location of clouds

15 minutes

Sensor constellation with multiple vantage points provides:

– Continuous viewing– Ability to autonomously

detect an event– Ability to characterize

phenomena and inform appropriate organizations

Landsat heritage imageLandsat heritage imageLandsat heritage imageLandsat heritage image

Agile imaging platforms with full

spectrometers

Atmospheric constituents &

chemistry

Advanced Sensors and the SensorwebAdvanced Sensors and the Sensorweb

Energy balanceActive lidars with imagers

and spectrometers

MotivationProgrammatic Limiters to the VisionMotivationProgrammatic Limiters to the Vision

• Length of time to plan, development and deploy space-based instruments for periodic focused measurements

The result: A decade may pass between the theoretical identification of a phenomenon and the deployment of a space-based asset limits measurement continuity and applicability

• Limited budgets preclude continually launching unique instruments targeted toward specific measurement needs

The result: Instrument designs are targeted to specific measurements and consequently once deployed cannot accommodate new scientific findings

Future remote sensing instruments may need to employ large numbers of frequency-agile instruments capable of multi-scene observations. Real-time, autonomous adaptive sensing and taskability will be critical. Advanced capabilities will include:

– Miniaturized observatories

– Robust, compact instrument architectures

– Miniaturized/programmable components

– Aperture synthesis

– Deployable apertures

– Low cost production

Technology Enablers to the VisionKey Characteristics

Technology Enablers to the VisionKey Characteristics

Science Areas Addressed:– Long range weather prediction– Climate prediction– Biosphere & land process change– Global air & water quality– Natural hazards– Efficient management of natural

resources

Technology Investment Areas:

– Detectors

– Ultra-Large Antennas & Telescopes

– Lidars

– Microwave Sensing

Investment Areas and EnablersInvestment Areas and Enablers

Leverage OpportunitiesPartnershipsLeverage OpportunitiesPartnerships

Level of partnering from outside NASA

Detectors

– Uncooled and Passively Cooled Detectors High– Frequency Agile Detectors Low

Lidar Systems

– Doppler Winds (Coherent and Direct Detection)

Low

– Microlaser Altimetry Low– Atmospheric Chemistry, Clouds/Aerosols Medium

Microwave Sensing Medium-HighUltra-Large Antennas and Telescopes MediumData Processing and Storage HighTypical Partners:

Department of Defense Department of Energy

NOAA NASA’s Space Science Enterprise

Other U. S. Government Labs Academia & Industry

Passively Cooled Thermal IR DetectorsPassively Cooled Thermal IR Detectors

Now 2005 2010

Arr

ay S

ize

2020

256 x 256100K

1 K x 1 K120K

2 K x 2 K130K

16 K x 16 K150K

Key Technologies– Advances current HgCdTe arrays– Ultimately using GaAS QWIP out to

20-microns– Quantum efficiency greater than

20%

Payoff– Less dependence on cooling– Higher efficiency can mean

lower power requirements for active systems

Frequency Agile Detectors Using Non-Linear OpticsFrequency Agile Detectors Using Non-Linear Optics

Now 2010 2020

Sub-mm

Acc

ess

ible

Spect

ral R

egio

n

SWIR

ThermalInfrared

UV

Key Technologies– High-performance Si FPAs over

broad spectral range (UV-FIR)

Payoff– Eliminates cryogenic cooling– Enables programmable and

ultimately “universal” sensors

Now 2007 2015

Incr

easi

ng C

apabili

ty

1J @ 355nm3m telescope35% eff. det.holographic

scan

3J @ 355 nm10m telescope50% eff. det.

Doppler Winds (Direct Detection)

500mJ, 10Hz.5 m optics

NPOESS1J, 12.5

Hz0.75 - 1m

optics

Doppler Winds (Coherent Detection)

ICESAT100mJ, 40Hz0.8m optics

x2 lifetime>efficiency<mass, cost

Laser Altimetry

0.1 - 0.5 m

ht. res.

VCL<1m ht. res.

Atmospheric Chemistry,Clouds/Aerosols

PICASSO-CENAclouds & aerosolsH/V res.

250m/30m

UV DIAL O3 & trace

gases

CO2 Multi-kHz microlaser

altimeter~cm 3D res.

Scanning H2O DIAL

Lidar Systems RoadmapLidar Systems Roadmap

300mJ @ 355nm1m telescope25% eff. det.

Microwave SensingMicrowave Sensing

Now 2007 2015

Measu

rem

en

t C

ap

ab

ility

EOSMLS

GEOSAMSDemo P-Band

SAR

ArrayMLS

Geo SyntheticAperture Sounding

Compact SounderFor Constellations

CloudRadar

Hi-ResPrecip.Radar

Sea Surface WindRadiometer

ScanningCloud / Precip.

Radars

Multi-Frequency

SAR Interferomet

rySoil Moisture/Sea Surface

SalinityRadiometer

Key Technologies– MMIC low-noise submm amps– Low-noise mixers/arrays– THz mixers and LO’s– Compact, efficient transmitter

devices, P- to W- band– High throughput digital

processing

Payoff– New capabilities– Increased profiling sensitivity

with improved spatial sampling– Reduced mass and power– Reduced launch costs– Improved global coverage

Now

Arr

ay A

rea (

m2)

20202010

100000

10

ArealDensity(kg/m2)

1

100

Optical Telescope

s

RF Antennas

100

1000

10000

10

.1

.01

MultifunctioMultifunction n

Membrane Membrane StructuresStructures

Adaptive Adaptive MembranMembrane Opticse Optics

50m High 50m High Resolution Resolution

ImagerImager

GEO HighGEO HighResolution Resolution

Thermal Thermal ImagerImager

Deployable Deployable Segmented Segmented TelescopesTelescopes

LEO Synthetic LEO Synthetic ApertureAperture

Soil Moisture Soil Moisture and Sea Surface and Sea Surface

WindsWinds

LEO LEO Synthetic Synthetic ApertureAperture

Sea Surface Sea Surface SalinitySalinity

300m GEO 300m GEO Synthetic Synthetic Aperture Aperture

RadiometerRadiometerSoil Moisture and Soil Moisture and Sea Sea Surface Sea Sea Surface

WindsWinds

InflatableInflatableAntennasAntennas

Ultra-Large Antennas and TelescopesUltra-Large Antennas and TelescopesKey Technologies– Inflatable Structures– Deployable Structures– Multifunctional Structures– Adaptive Control Systems– Membrane Optics and Large

Deformable Mirrors

Payoff– Enables low cost, lightweight

sensor web nodes– Enables large diameter

instrument front ends– Enables high spatial resolution

science

2005 2010 2015 2020

2025

1 Pb

Storage Capacity

100 Tb

1 Tb

1T

10M

1M Num

ber

of

Gate

s

Reconfigurable computing

Pix

•Miniaturized, 3D packaging

•2 Gb stacks•Low power,

mass, volume•$1K/Gb •RAM-FPGA farm

•Basic onboard processing and data compression

•Pre-defined formats/protocols•COTS/DMBS•Direct delivery to user

• Improved manufacturing/ packaging process

•$5K/Tb

•RAM-FPGA farm•Advanced onboard

processing; algorithm uploads•User selectable formats•Direct delivery to user

•Holographic; photorefractive

•Distributed RAM-FPGA

• Interoperable processing among spacecraft and DBs

•Direct delivery to user

• Bio Computing

Data Processing & StorageData Processing & Storage

Lidar Technologies -Doppler Winds Coherent DetectionLidar Technologies -Doppler Winds Coherent Detection

Tech Demoin Space

Now 2007 2012

Inst

rum

ent

Capabili

ty ScienceVal

500mJ, 10Hz50 cm telescopeDiffractive optics

scanning

NPOESS

1 J @ 2 um.75 to 1 meter telescope

Diffractive optics or lightweight telescope

100mJ@ 2 um

25 cm telescope

Payoff– Add ~1 day (average) to weather

predictability (2 days in southern hemisphere)

– Better global climate analyses for diagnostics (El Nino, etc)

Now 2007 2015

Rela

tive C

apabili

ty

1000

30

1

300 mJ @ 3551 m ø telescope

25% eff det

1 J @ 3553 m ø telescope

35% eff detHolographic scanning

3 J @ 35510 m ø telescope

50% eff det

Lidar Technologies -Doppler Winds Direct DetectionLidar Technologies -Doppler Winds Direct Detection

Payoff– Improved weather forecast– Better understanding of long- and

short-term climate

Lidar Technologies -AltimetryLidar Technologies -Altimetry

Now 2005 2010

Inst

rum

ent

Capabili

ty

10 kHz SpaceborneFree Flyer (550 km)

4 kHz Shuttle Demo (300 km)

10 kHz Aircraft Demo (12 km)

Key Technologies– Multikilohertz laser

transmitter (4 mJ @ 10 kHz)

– Photon-counting imaging/ ranging microchannel plate photomultiplier

Payoff– Two orders of magnitude

better spatial resolution and coverage

– Less prone to optical damage and improved eye safety

Applications– Surface topography

(Land, Ice, Oceans)– Tree canopy heights

(Biomass)– Cloud heights

(Radiation Balance)– Sea level