Title :
Pre-launch calibration of the SeaWinds scatterometer electronics subsystem
Author :
Herzig, Paul ; Wrubel, Mel ; Boller, Bill
Author_Institution :
Raytheon E-Syst. St. Petersburg, FL, USA
Abstract :
The SeaWinds instrument is a spaceborne scatterometer due to be launched in the year 2000 on the Japanese Advanced Earth Observation Satellite (ADEOS) II platform. Its mission is to measure wind speed and direction over the Earth´s ice-free oceans. The SES, the heart of the scatterometer, is being built by Raytheon E-Systems and is responsible for measuring the normalized ocean scattering coefficient, σ0 , from which the wind vector is derived. This paper discusses the pre-launch calibration of the SES that ensures on-orbit performance meets the mission´s requirements
Keywords :
aerospace testing; atmospheric boundary layer; atmospheric measuring apparatus; backscatter; calibration; electromagnetic wave scattering; ocean waves; radar cross-sections; remote sensing by radar; spaceborne radar; velocity measurement; wind; ADEOS II; Earth´s ice-free oceans; Japanese Advanced Earth Observation Satellite; Raytheon E-Systems; SeaWinds instrument; backscatter cross-section; microwave radar; mission requirements; normalized ocean scattering coefficient; on-orbit performance; pre-launch calibration; scatterometer electronics subsystem; spaceborne scatterometer; wind direction; wind speed measurement; wind vector; Artificial satellites; Calibration; Earth; Instruments; Oceans; Radar measurements; Sea measurements; Spaceborne radar; Velocity measurement; Wind speed;
Conference_Titel :
Southeastcon '98. Proceedings. IEEE
Conference_Location :
Orlando, FL
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-4391-3
DOI :
10.1109/SECON.1998.673341
