International Space Station:Investing in Humanity’s Future

ISS for Earth Observation:ISS for Earth Observation:Seeking Out New International Seeking Out New International

PartnershipsPartnerships

John DeWittJohn DeWittjohn.dewitt@ngc.comjohn.dewitt@ngc.com

ASTE 527ASTE 527

December 15, 2009December 15, 2009

USC

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Background

• 1990 – Construction Begins1990 – Construction Begins• 2010 – Construction Complete2010 – Construction Complete• 2015 – ISS Decommissioned2015 – ISS Decommissioned• Need for utilizationNeed for utilization• Need for increased collaborationNeed for increased collaboration• Must bring more nations on board, to spread the Must bring more nations on board, to spread the

philosophy of the ISS.philosophy of the ISS.

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Assumptions and Ground Rules

• Favorable response from ISS partners.Favorable response from ISS partners.• Favorable response from global space community.Favorable response from global space community.• Non ISS partners would jump on board with new investments in Non ISS partners would jump on board with new investments in

their current or future space.their current or future space.• Concept must include small and affordable optionsConcept must include small and affordable options

– Allows for more nations to come aboard.Allows for more nations to come aboard.

Must have full Must have full cooperation and buy-in cooperation and buy-in from current ISS Partnersfrom current ISS Partners

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Rationale

• ISS Partners to help other nations to build free-flyers to satisfy ISS Partners to help other nations to build free-flyers to satisfy their countries own need in space.their countries own need in space.

• Use the ISS as a platform for Earth Observation (EO)Use the ISS as a platform for Earth Observation (EO)• Fully utilizing the capabilities of a manned space station in Fully utilizing the capabilities of a manned space station in

ways that are particularly useful to the EO community.ways that are particularly useful to the EO community.

ISS single day ground trackISS single day ground track

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Concepts Overview

Free FlyersFree FlyersSmall, inexpensive solution to increase Small, inexpensive solution to increase

number of ISS partnersnumber of ISS partners

• Uses:Uses:– Disaster ReliefDisaster Relief

– Earth SciencesEarth Sciences

– Educational ImagingEducational Imaging

Ground Penetrating Radar Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)(GPR)ISS Resource ManagementISS Resource Management

• Uses:Uses:– Earthquake Fault line detectionEarthquake Fault line detection

– Ground water rechargeGround water recharge

– Contaminant transportContaminant transport

– Surface-Atmosphere energy Surface-Atmosphere energy exchangesexchanges

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Concept: Free Flyers for Disaster Relief

• Hurricanes, fires, floods, earthquakesHurricanes, fires, floods, earthquakes

• ResponsiveResponsive

• On-demandOn-demand

• Repeatedly serviced at ISSRepeatedly serviced at ISS

• Await future missions or needsAwait future missions or needs

• Simple Optical/IR payloadsSimple Optical/IR payloads

Global Disaster AreasGlobal Disaster Areas+/- 40 deg RAAN+/- 40 deg RAAN

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Concept: Free Flyers for Earth Science

• Re-docking with ISS for repair or refuelingRe-docking with ISS for repair or refueling• Benefits similar to DARPA F6Benefits similar to DARPA F6

– Share resourcesShare resources– Option to upgrade payloadsOption to upgrade payloads

• Repeat CoverageRepeat Coverage• Global CoverageGlobal Coverage

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Concept: Free Flyers Educational Imaging

• International effortInternational effort– Students from all over the world contributing and collaborating via a series Students from all over the world contributing and collaborating via a series

of Free Flyer platforms.of Free Flyer platforms.

• Students could control a cameraStudents could control a camera– View weather patterns over the globe in a near-real-time environment. View weather patterns over the globe in a near-real-time environment.

Image other countries for geography/science research projects.Image other countries for geography/science research projects.

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Concept:Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

• Resources managementResources management• Utilize excess powerUtilize excess power

• GPR for variety of uses:GPR for variety of uses:• Earthquake Fault line detectionEarthquake Fault line detection• Ground water rechargeGround water recharge• Contaminant transportContaminant transport• Surface-Atmosphere Surface-Atmosphere

energy exchangesenergy exchanges

Mounted on P3 or S3 Truss SegmentMounted on P3 or S3 Truss Segment

Requires sub 100 MHz frequencyRequires sub 100 MHz frequency

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Merits and Limitations

• Bring ISS partners and the rest of the global Bring ISS partners and the rest of the global community together.community together.

• Stimulate global investments in space.Stimulate global investments in space.• Benefits of integrating EO platforms with the Benefits of integrating EO platforms with the

capabilities of a manned space station.capabilities of a manned space station.• Human in the loop for EO systems. Human in the loop for EO systems. • Limitations on using low frequency GPRLimitations on using low frequency GPR

– Ionosphere interferenceIonosphere interference– Surface clutter mitigationSurface clutter mitigation

• Limitations on Free Flyer propulsionLimitations on Free Flyer propulsion– Large diverts requiredLarge diverts required

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Future Studies

• GPR studies have already been performed in GPR studies have already been performed in desert areas and on MARS.desert areas and on MARS.

• Study capabilities of low frequency GPR for Study capabilities of low frequency GPR for Earth ObservationEarth Observation

• Develop simulations of how ISS EMI may Develop simulations of how ISS EMI may interact with the GPR payload.interact with the GPR payload.

• Investigate propulsive limitations for Free Investigate propulsive limitations for Free Flyer diverts from the ISS orbit.Flyer diverts from the ISS orbit.

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References

1.1. ““Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction”, United Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction”, United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Secretariat Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Secretariat (UNISDR), 2009.(UNISDR), 2009.

2.2. Dr. Tony Freeman, “Active Microwave I”, ASTE 553: Systems for Dr. Tony Freeman, “Active Microwave I”, ASTE 553: Systems for Remote Sensing From Space, USC.Remote Sensing From Space, USC.

3.3. ““Using Ground-Penetrating Radar to Observe Hidden Underground Using Ground-Penetrating Radar to Observe Hidden Underground Water Processes”, Science Daily, March 26, 2008.Water Processes”, Science Daily, March 26, 2008.

4.4. G. Grandjean et. al., “Radar penetration in soils: towards a new G. Grandjean et. al., “Radar penetration in soils: towards a new system for subsurface Earth observation”, Proceedings of the CEOS system for subsurface Earth observation”, Proceedings of the CEOS SAR Workshop, ESA SP-450, March 2000.SAR Workshop, ESA SP-450, March 2000.

5.5. Design of Low Cost Space Missions, Dr. James R. WertzDesign of Low Cost Space Missions, Dr. James R. Wertz