Data Guide For the UARS Platform
Links to UARS Intruments
NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) was
launched on September 12, 1991, from the Space
Shuttle Discovery (STS-48). It was released three days later into a
585 km altitude orbit, inclined 57 degrees to the equator. UARS will study
the physical and chemical processes of the Earth's stratosphere, mesosphere,
and lower thermosphere. Four instruments (CLAES, ISAMS, MLS, HALOE) measure
atmospheric composition and temperature, two instruments (HRDI, WINDII)
observe atmospheric winds, and three other instruments (SOLSTICE, SUSIM,
PEM) measure the energy inputs from solar radiation and charged particles.
A tenth instrument (ACRIM II) will take advantage of a flight of opportunity
to continue NASA's solar constant measurements. |
Table of Contents
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Platform Mission Objectives
It is the UARS mission to study the coupled energy inputs,
chemistry and dynamics of the upper atmosphere, improve the understanding
of natural and man-made perturbations to the upper atmosphere, and to learn
more about long term climate effects. The mission objectives also include
the study of energy input and loss, photochemistry, and dynamics in the
upper atmosphere, coupling among these processes, and coupling between
the upper and lower atmosphere.
| Platform Parameters |
| Launch Vehicle: |
Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-48) |
| Launch Date: |
12 September 1991 23:11:04 GMT |
| Orbit: |
585 km (near circular) |
| Inclination: |
57 deg |
| Period: |
96 minutes |
| Instrument mass: |
2400 kg |
| Total spacecraft mass: |
6540 kg |
| Spacecraft length: |
10.7 m |
| Instrument power: |
750 W |
| Total power: |
1600 W |
| Mission lifetime: |
3 years |
| Manufacturer: |
General Electric Astro-Space Division |
| Sponsoring Agency: |
NASA |
|
| Coverage Information |
| Latitude coverage |
80° North to 80° South
|
| Global coverage interval |
36 days for full diurnal measurements |
|
|
|
| Data Collection System |
| Data rate: |
32 kbit/s |
| Data storage: |
Two tape recorders |
| Playback rate: |
512 kbit/s |
| Data relay: |
TDRSS, 15 min/orbit |
|
|
The near complete latitude coverage is achieved by performing a yaw maneuver
approximately every 36 days, whereby the spacecraft is rotated 180 degrees
to view in the opposite hemisphere along the trajectory path. Thus, coverage
is increased from a range of 34S - 80N to a range of 80S - 80N.
Communications Links
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS)
List of Available Guide Documents for Instruments
- CryogenicLimb Array Etalon Spectrometer (CLAES)
- Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE)
- High Resolution Doppler Imager (HRDI)
- Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder (ISAMS)
-
Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS)
-
Particle Environment Monitor (PEM)
- Solar-Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment (SOLSTICE)
- Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SUSIM)
- Wind Imaging Interferometer (WINDII)
- Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor (ACRIM II) (see note below)
NOTE: ACRIM II is not managed by the UARS project
Tracking and Control
UARS command and control are coordinated through the Project
Operations Control Center (POCC) located at Goddard Space Flight Center
(GSFC). Communications between the ground system and UARS are normally
made through the Space Network S-Band Single Access (SSA) service. Contacts
between UARS and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) are made
for a minimum of 10 minutes on each orbit. In emergencies, direct links
between UARS and Deep Space Network (DSN) ground stations will be used.
Data Acquisition and Processing
Data are telemetered from UARS through the Tracking and Data
Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) to the Data Capture Facility (DCF) at NASA
GSFC. There the data are checked and forwarded to the UARS Central Data
Handling Facility (CDHF). The instrument PI teams are connected to the
CDHF through remote analysis computers (RACs), where they have developed
software to convert the raw data to processed data. The CDHF uses the production
software to convert the level 0 data to level 1, 2, 3A and 3B. The data
are stored on line, and cataloged at the CDHF. The instrument PI teams
are responsible for the quality of the data and updating the data.
Latitude Crossing Times
There are approximately 15 orbits (97 minute period) each day,
for a maximum of 30 crossings at each latitude between 80 north and 80
south.
-
Evaluation of the UARS Data, Reprinted from the Journal of Geophysical
Research, American Geophysical Union publication, 1996
-
Reber, Carl A., The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, EOS Trans. AGU,
71, 1867, 1990.
-
Reber, C. A., C. E. Trevathan, R. J. McNeal, and M. R. Luther, The Upper
Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) Mission, J. Geophys. Res. 98, D6,
10643-10647, 1993.
-
Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 20, 1993.
-
Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, A Program to Study Global Ozone Change,
NASA publication, 1989.
-
Mission Operations Report, Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS),
NASA Report S-678-48-91-01.
-
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Platform
-
The platform is a source from where data are taken. The platform may be
an aircraft, balloon, buoy, ground station, or spacecraft. The UARS platform
contains a collection of instruments, power system, and communications
systems.
| ACRIM |
Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor |
| CDHF |
Central Data Handling Facility |
| CLAES |
Cryogenic Limb Array Etalon Spectrometer |
| DCF |
Data Capture Facility |
| DSN |
Deep Space Network |
| GMT |
Greenwich Mean Time (also Universal Time, UT) |
| GSFC |
Goddard Space Flight Center |
| HALOE |
Halogen Occultation Experiment |
| HRDI |
High Resolution Doppler Imager |
| ISAMS |
Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder |
| kg |
kilogram |
| km |
kilometer |
| m |
meter |
| MLS |
Microwave Limb Sounder |
| NASA |
National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| PEM |
Particle Environment Monitor |
| POCC |
Project Operations Control Center |
| RAC |
remote analysis computer |
| SOLSTICE |
Solar/Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment |
| SUSIM |
Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitor |
| TDRS |
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite |
| TDRSS |
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System |
| UARS |
Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite |
| W |
watt |
| WINDII |
Wind Imaging Interferometer |
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UARS Home Page
Change History
- Version 2.0
- Version baselined on addition to the GES Controlled Documents List, January, 30, 1998.
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Atmos Composition
