Start Date
4-1969 8:00 AM
Description
Many NASA and industry-sponsored studies during the past several years have concluded that both synoptic and continuous remote sensing of the earth environment from orbital spacecraft offer unique advantages over similar aircraft sensor configurations. Wider earth resource coverage, extended duration capability, repeated orbital traces over ground-truth sites are some of the more apparent advantages. Still, the problem of data management and experiment programming, specif ically data taking and on-line data evaluation,are significantly large and yet unresolved.
One of the more promising techniques for • providing timely and expert data management, as 'well as having the benefit of human visual surveillance and target-of-opportunity selection from orbit, involves the use of manned spacecraft. A crew observer/experimenter with appropriate optical aids and sensor displays may play the dual role of systems manager as well as experimenter/ evaluator. Of course, duties such as sensor aiming, preparation, replenishment, retrieval, maintenance and data transmission are adjuncts to the primary experimenter activities which make the approach even more attractive.
This manned experimentation role has been extensively studied at TRW Systems in the context of earth resource orbital missions utilizing Apollo follow-on hardware (AAP) with short and long-term experiment carriers, Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) Vehicles fitted with similar sensor payloads, and extended duration orbital workshops incorporating Saturn launch vehicle spent stages with appropriate man-rated laboratory areas.
One particular program conducted during the past year was an in-house study of an earth resource payload for a MOL-type vehicle. The study objective was to determine the engineering feasibility of incorporating such a payload within the laboratory area of a MOL vehicle. The advantages of this approach are apparent in that the MOL has (or can have) an orbital duration of up to 3 months without logistic resupply providing the capability (depending on orbital inclination and altitude) of repeated coverage of earth several times within this 90-day period.
Remote Sensing of Earth Resources Using Manned Spacecraft
Many NASA and industry-sponsored studies during the past several years have concluded that both synoptic and continuous remote sensing of the earth environment from orbital spacecraft offer unique advantages over similar aircraft sensor configurations. Wider earth resource coverage, extended duration capability, repeated orbital traces over ground-truth sites are some of the more apparent advantages. Still, the problem of data management and experiment programming, specif ically data taking and on-line data evaluation,are significantly large and yet unresolved.
One of the more promising techniques for • providing timely and expert data management, as 'well as having the benefit of human visual surveillance and target-of-opportunity selection from orbit, involves the use of manned spacecraft. A crew observer/experimenter with appropriate optical aids and sensor displays may play the dual role of systems manager as well as experimenter/ evaluator. Of course, duties such as sensor aiming, preparation, replenishment, retrieval, maintenance and data transmission are adjuncts to the primary experimenter activities which make the approach even more attractive.
This manned experimentation role has been extensively studied at TRW Systems in the context of earth resource orbital missions utilizing Apollo follow-on hardware (AAP) with short and long-term experiment carriers, Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) Vehicles fitted with similar sensor payloads, and extended duration orbital workshops incorporating Saturn launch vehicle spent stages with appropriate man-rated laboratory areas.
One particular program conducted during the past year was an in-house study of an earth resource payload for a MOL-type vehicle. The study objective was to determine the engineering feasibility of incorporating such a payload within the laboratory area of a MOL vehicle. The advantages of this approach are apparent in that the MOL has (or can have) an orbital duration of up to 3 months without logistic resupply providing the capability (depending on orbital inclination and altitude) of repeated coverage of earth several times within this 90-day period.
Comments
No other information or file available for this session.