Urgent TRMM re-entry issue

For the safety, NASA would like to have controlled re-entry of TRMM

Options Maneuver term. Re-entry

A Nov. 2003 As soon as ready　 B Mar. 2004 Nov. 2003-Nov. 2004

more 4-7 months

C Mar. 2005 US FY07-FY09

more 1.3-3 years

D more 7-8 years

Proposed recommendation from the 8th GISP meeting

After the launch of TRMM in Nov. 1997, remarkable results emerged from unique TRMM data

(1) Accurate precipitation distribution over tropics and sub-tropics form diurnal scale to a few year scale

(2) Three dimensional structure of rain

(3) Vertical structure of precipitation system

(4) Remarkable improvement of precipitation system measurement from space.

TRMM has a unique sensor package: radar, microwave radiometer and visible/infrared radiometer, and has no alternatives.

After the accumulation of TRMM, it is now able to study the inter-annual variation of precipitation distributions.

Now and in the very near future, more satellites will be in orbit (e.g. CloudSat).

From the science point of view, we strongly urge to keep the TRMM observation as long as possible.

We understand the re-entry has the safety problem.

We would like to strongly recommend the Option 3.

Letters to Dr. Asrara, NASA and Dr. Furuhama, JAXA

TRMM Rain Total