Update on the NOAA Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Demonstration

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Update on the NOAA Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
Demonstration

• James W. Elkins1, Fred L. Moore1,2, Dale F.
  Hurst1,2, Samuel J. Oltmans1, and David W. Fahey3
• 1NOAA/Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics
  Laboratory (CMDL), Boulder, Colorado 80305 USA
• 2CIRES, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
  80309 USA
• 3NOAA/Aeronomy Laboratory (AL), Boulder,
  Colorado 80305 USA
• Effective 10/2/2005 CMDL, AL, and others form
  new super lab Earth System Research Laboratory
  (ESRL) with Global Monitoring Division (GMD) and
  Chemical Processes Division (CPD)
• AVE Science Team Meeting, 20 September 2005
• Computer Sciences Corporation, Lanham-Seabrook,
  MD

2
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Altair

• Wingspan 26.2 m (86 ft)
• Fuselage 11 m (36 ft)
• Max. Altitude 15.8 km (52 kft) 13.7 km (45
  kft)
• Endurance, max. 30 hours 20 hours
• Internal payload 300 kg (660 lbs.) 140 kg, 300
  lbs.
• Total weight 1361 kg (3000 lbs.)

• Engine Honeywell turboprop (TPE 331-10T)
• Typical speed 150 200 kts (77 103 m/s or
  172 230 mph)
• Max Distance 10000 km 2700 - 3600 nm (5000 -
  6640 km)
• Unpressurized and no temperature control in
  payload bay

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NOAA UAS Demo Payload

• GC/OZ (Elkins/Oltmans)
• Ocean Color (Churnside)
• Passive Microwave Vertical Sounder (PMVS) H2O,
  temp (Klein)
• Mapping, Digital Camera System-DCS (Sellars)
• Marine Sanctuaries, Skyball- EO/IR (Jacob)
• Flight Planning (Rosenlof, Ray)
• Project Scientists (Fahey, Gasiewski)
• Project Managers (Aslaksen, Summers)
• NASA coordinator (Jennison)

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NOAA/CMDL UAS Chromatograph for Atmospheric
Trace Species (UCATS)

• Box weighs 22 kg (48 lbs.), 24.6 x 40.6 x 45.7 cm
  (9.7x16x18.1), 45.6 liters
• Measures O3 once every 10 seconds (commercial
  unit 2B,Inc.)
• Measures N2O, SF6, CFC-11, CFC-12, halon-1211
  once
• every 70 seconds. On board calibration.
• In the future, could measure( PAN, PPN) or (CO,
  H2, CH4)
• for tropospheric mission.
• Compounds in red are measured by Aura
  Satellite Instruments.

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Update

• Eight successful flights (test)
• UCATS (GC/OZ) worked on all flights
• Problems with Ku band modem forced two
  postponements.
• Return to flight in October/November 2005
• 8-10 hour test flight over the ocean planned in
  early Oct.
• Two flights planned (1) 20-hour to Trinidad Head,
  California, and (2) 6-hour fight over Channel
  Islands
• NASA planning a UAV flight in 2007

NOAA Administrator VADM Lautenbacher during Media
Day at GA Gray Butte, CA on 20 April 2005.
New Web Page http//uas.noaa.gov/altair/index.html
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Altair Communications and Control Problem Ku
band satellite modem (loss of linkgt500 km)
Ku-band (over the horizon)
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Atmospheric Science During Demo19 April 2005
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Stratospheric Polar Air Incursion over Southern
California
Provided by Leslie Lait of NASA/Goddard
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Stratospheric Fold
Provided by Leslie Lait of NASA/Goddard
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Slide Show of Event
Provided by Leslie Lait of NASA/Goddard
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End of Talk--Team Picture