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 USA3NOAA/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

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

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)

1. Box weighs 22 kg (48 lbs.), 24.6 x 40.6 x 45.7 cm (9.7x16x18.1”), 45.6 liters2. Measures O3 once every 10 seconds (commercial unit 2B,Inc.)3. Measures N2O, SF6, CFC-11, CFC-12, halon-1211 once every 70 seconds. On board calibration.3. In the future, could measure( PAN, PPN) or (CO, H2, CH4) for tropospheric mission.

Compounds in red are measured by Aura Satellite Instruments.

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

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

Altair Communications and Control Problem: Ku band satellite modem (loss of link>500 km)

Ku-band (over the horizon)

Atmospheric Science During Demo19 April 2005

Stratospheric Polar Air Incursion over Southern California

Provided by Leslie Lait of NASA/Goddard

Stratospheric Fold

Provided by Leslie Lait of NASA/Goddard

Slide Show of Event

Provided by Leslie Lait of NASA/Goddard

End of Talk--Team Picture