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1 R. Atlas R. Bennartz M. DeMaria J. Dunion F. Marks R. Rogers C. Velden AMS SatMet TROPICS comprises 12 CubeSats (3U) in three orbital planes

2 TROPICS will be the first demonstration that science payloads on low-cost CubeSats can push the frontiers of spaceborne monitoring of the Earth to enable system science. 12/05/ Z 22W HAGUPIT 12/05/ Z MTSAT 2 IR TROPICS will fill gaps in our knowledge of the short time scale hourly and less evolution of tropical cyclones. Our current capabilities are an order of magnitude slower. TROPICS will complement CYGNSS by making direct measurements of temperature, humidity and precipitation, in rapidly developing tropical cyclones. TROPICS has the potential to make frequent precipitation measurements, expanding on the coverage of the GPM mission. Super Typhoon Hagupit 12/5/14 Sounding channel at 183±7 Typhoon Hagupit, Dec GHz 5, 2014: GMI observations ( /7 GHz) degraded reveals precipitation structure to TROPICS resolution are shown Naval Research Lab <--- IR Temperature (Celsius) ---> AMS SatMet TB (K)

3 Outline Passive microwave sounding CubeSats Technology pathfinders for TROPICS: MiRaTA and MicroMAS Recent progress TROPICS overview Science objectives CubeSat constellation observatory Mission implementation Summary and path forward AMS SatMet - 3

4 Microwave Atmospheric Sensing Wavelength (meters) Radio Microwave Infrared Visible Ultraviolet X-ray Gamma Ray x Cloud Penetration; Highest Forecast Impact 100 Transmission (%) Frequency (GHz) The frequency dependence of atmospheric absorption allows different altitudes to be sensed by spacing channels along absorption lines AMS SatMet - 4

5 New Approach for Microwave Sounding Suomi NPP Satellite (Launched Oct. 2011) MicroMAS Satellite Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) 4.2 kg, 10W, 34 x 10 x 10 cm 100 kg, 100 W Microwave sensor amenable to miniaturization (10 cm aperture) Broad footprints (~50 km) Modest pointing requirements Relatively low data rate 2100 kg NASA/GSFC NPP: National Polar-orbiting Partnership AMS SatMet - 5

6 TROPICS Pathfinders: MicroMAS-1, MicroMAS-2, and MiRaTA MicroMAS = Microsized Microwave Atmospheric Satellite MiRaTA = Microwave Radiometer Technology Acceleration MicroMAS-1 3U cubesat with 118-GHz radiometer 8 channels for temperature measurements July 2014 launch, March 2015 release; validation of spacecraft systems; eventual transmitter failure MicroMAS-2 3U cubesat scanning radiometer with channels near 90, 118, 183, and 206 GHz 12 channels for moisture and temperature profiling and precipitation imaging Two launches in 2017 MiRaTA 3U cubesat with 60, 183, and 206 GHz radiometers and GPS radio occultation 10 channels for temperature, moisture, and cloud ice measurements Mar 2017 launch on JPSS-1 Payload TVAC calibration complete! AMS SatMet - 6

7 The MicroMAS-1 CubeSat UHF tape-spring antenna 4.25 kg total mass 10 W avg power 16 kbps max data rate 0.5 pointing accuracy 118-GHz scanning radiometer payload cube (40 RPM) 2W avg power deployed solar panels 3-axis reaction wheel system Earth horizon sensors (8 total) parabolic offset antenna system body-mounted solar panels AMS SatMet - 7

8 MicroMAS-1 Bus Design Custom vs. COTS Parts (Bottom) ADCS Interface Board Motherboard Battery Motor Controller Payload MAI-400 Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) Electrical Power System (EPS) Radio (Top) Avionics Interface Board Magnetometer Communications Antenna Scanner Assembly Timely development of COTS parts was a major program challenge AMS SatMet - 8

9 Custom Top Interface Board L-3 Cadet Bus Stack Hardware Micron Motherboard (custom) Custom Micron Radio Clyde Space Electrical Power System ADCS MAI- 400 IMU Clyde Space Battery Custom Bottom Interface Board AMS SatMet - 9

10 Radiometer Hardware DRO V-RFE PVRM PIM Reflector, feedhorns, & V-RFE G-RFE-1 V-IFP G-IFP AMS SatMet - 10 G-RFE-2

11 Outline Passive microwave sounding CubeSats Technology pathfinders for TROPICS: MiRaTA and MicroMAS Recent progress TROPICS overview Science objectives CubeSat constellation observatory Mission implementation Summary and path forward AMS SatMet - 11

12 Representative TROPICS 183-GHz Images (ATMS Data Shown, Similar Spatial Resolution) Hurricane Edouard (15 Sep 2014) Hurricane Maysak (30 Mar 2015) AMS SatMet - 12

13 TROPICS Science Objectives Relate precipitation structure evolution, including diurnal cycle, to the evolution of the upper-level warm core and associated intensity changes Relate the occurrence of intense precipitation cores (convective bursts) to storm intensity evolution Relate retrieved environmental moisture measurements to coincident measures of storm structure (including size) and intensity Assimilate microwave radiances and/or retrievals in mesoscale and global numerical weather prediction models to assess impacts on storm track and intensity AMS SatMet - 13

14 Key Linkages Explored by TROPICS Relate precipitation structure evolution, including diurnal cycle, to the evolution of the upper-level warm core and associated intensity changes Relate the occurrence of intense precipitation cores (convective bursts) to storm intensity evolution AMS SatMet - 14

15 Key Linkages Explored by TROPICS Relate retrieved environmental moisture measurements to coincident measures of storm structure (including size) and intensity AMS SatMet - 15

16 Improved Storm Forecasting Assess the impact of microwave radiances and/or retrievals on numerical and statistical model predictions of storm track and intensity CAT 4 CAT 3 CAT 2 CAT 1 Poor initilization of storm intensity in later forecast cycles Wind Speed (knots) TROPICS data improve storm intensity during the first 24 forecast hours by ~20% CAT 4 CAT 3 CAT 2 CAT 1 MODELS NWP: HWRF GEOS-5 GFS Forecast Date/Time Forecast Date/Time Statistical: SHIPS AMS SatMet - 16

17 TROPICS Level 1 Data Information Data Products Retrieved temperature and humidity profiles Precipitation/convection indicators via brightness temperatures Storm intensity estimates TROPICS Weighting Functions Seven channels near 118 GHz Three channels near 183 GHz One channel near 90 GHz One channel near 206 GHz AMS SatMet - 17

18 TROPICS Spatial and Temporal Resolution ATMS Nadir/Avg (km) TROPICS Nadir/Avg (km) Temperature 33/44 27/40 Moisture & Precipitation 17/24 17/24 TROPICS resolution comparable to ATMS Swath width 2250 (±50.5 ) 2025 (±56 ) TROPICS will provide frequent revisits Average (min) Median (min) Frequency of gaps <2 hr Baseline 12 satellites % Threshold 8 satellites % AMS SatMet - 18

19 TROPICS CubeSats 1 EDU, 1 QUAL, 12 Flight Units 3U CubeSat (2U spacecraft bus, 1U radiometer) 12-channel passive microwave radiometer 90 & 206 GHz imaging channels Temperature sounding near 118 GHz Moisture sounding near 183 GHz Bus with solar panels in launch position 10 cm 10 cm 34 cm MicroMAS-2 is a 3U CubeSat with heritage from MicroMAS-1 and MiRaTA flight designs AMS SatMet - 19

20 TROPICS Orbital Characteristics Four CubeSats in each of three orbital planes Altitude of 600 km, 30 inclination Sweet spot in: swath width, revisit rate, and spatial resolution AMS SatMet - 20

21 TROPICS Ground and Data Systems Ground Stations TBD AMS SatMet - 21

22 TROPICS Mission Timeline MiRaTA launch MicroMAS-2a launch MicroMAS-2b launch AMS SatMet - 22

23 Summary and Path Forward We can now use a global constellation of CubeSats to determine the dynamic and thermodynamic relationships within rapidly evolving storms TROPICS will provide the first high-revisit microwave observations of precipitation, temperature, and humidity on a near-global scale TROPICS addresses PATH Decadal Survey mission objectives using a low-cost, easyto-launch CubeSat constellation Measurements will complement GPM, CYGNSS, and GOES-R missions with high refresh, near-all-weather measurements of precipitation and thermodynamic structure TROPICS will increase our understanding of critical processes driving significant and rapid changes in storm structure/intensity Program kicking off now for 2019 launch readiness AMS SatMet - 23