NASA Airborne Science Program: Capabilities for Terrestrial Ecology

Susan Schoenung, ARC-CREST, susan.m.schoenung@nasa.gov (Presenter)
Matt Fladeland, NASA Ames Research Center, matthew.m.fladeland@nasa.gov
Bruce Tagg, NASA Airborne Science Progra, bruce.a.tagg@nasa.gov
Randal Albertson, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, randal.t.albertson@nasa.gov

The Airborne Science Program (ASP) within the Earth Science Division is responsible for providing aircraft systems that further science and advance the use of satellite data. The primary objectives of this program are to:

- Collect high-resolution imagery for focused process studies and sub-pixel resolution for spaceborne calibration.

- Conduct in-situ atmospheric measurements with varying vertical and horizontal resolutions

- Implement 'sensor web' observational strategies for conducting earth science missions including intelligent mission management, and sensor networking.

- Demonstrate and exploit the capabilities of uninhabited and autonomous aircraft for science investigations

- Test new sensor technologies in space-like environments

- Calibrate/validate space-based measurements and retrieval algorithms

To meet these observing objectives, we provide a suite of sustained, ongoing platforms and sensors on which investigators can rely from year to year; from these known capabilities the Science Mission Directorate develops observing strategies.

ASP supports the Terrestrial Ecology program with a number of capabilities, including the high altitude ER-2 flying AVIRIS and MASTER sensors, G-III flying UAVSAR, and SIERRA UAS flying a variety of imaging instruments. The airborne sensor web and Mission Tools Suite provide real-time flight tracking, payload data access, and situational awareness on these and other platforms. Examples of these capabilities are provided in this poster.

Presentation: 2013_Poster_Schoenung_74_16.pdf (1192k)

Presentation Type:  Poster

Session:  Poster Session 2-B   (Wed 4:30 PM)

Associated Project(s): 

• Related Activity or Previously Funded TE Activity

Poster Location ID: 74