Science Mission Directorate Suborbital Sciences Program UAV Opportunities

Science Mission Directorate Suborbital Sciences Program UAV Opportunities Conference Akron, OH 27 April 2005 Cheryl Yuhas

Suborbital Science Programs To understand protect our home planet, we need data from multiple perspectives. Suborbital fills time and space gap between surface observing networks and orbital platforms. Objectives • Development of new space sensors and new remote-sensing techniques. • Satellite calibration/validation. Sounding Rocket Program Balloon Program Aircraft & UAV Programs 2 • Targeted observations of ephemeral phenomena with variable temporal and spatial scales. • Atmosphere/near-space in-situ observations. • Improvement and validation of predictive Earth process models using satellite data. • Next-generation scientists with handson sensor hardware and field experiment experience.

Suborbital (Aircraft/UAVs) Program Catalog Demonstrated or proven platforms from a variety of sources, selected based on 3 -5 year science requirements. 3 New Technology Platforms Science Missions & New Sensors Finite (5 -10 yr) commitments (e. g. long-term leases) of experimental platforms & enabling technologies, to enable new science from new vantage points. Integrated mission & field campaign management for all suborbital earth science missions; potential to include sensor development to accompany new platform capabilities.

Suborbital Current Observing Capabilities Aircraft/UAVs Performance Envelope ER 2 WB 57 ALTAIR ALTUS-II L 10 0 0 Walker Circulation UAV ITCZ Width L = Lear Jet Tropical Tropopause Convective Detrainment DC 8 P 3 Mesoscale Pr = Proteus Cirrus (ALTUS I) ALTUS-I GH = Global Hawk 4 Pr (ALTUS II) GH (ALTAIR) Polar Tropopause Planetary Scale 20 Stratosphere Synoptic Scale Altitude (km) 30 Troposphere Boundary Layer 4000 8000 Range (nm) 12000 Newman & Schoeberl, GSFC Payload is proportional to font size (truncated at 2000 lb. and 600 lb. ) Bold indicates payload greater than 2000 lb.

Aeronautics-Science Partnership for New Capabilities 5

Results of SSMF Workshop 6

An Integrated Earth Observing System 7