Positive News on UARS Mission
Message forwarded from Dr. Charles H. Jackman, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. ================================================================================ October 25, 2001 UARS Colleagues: We have generally positive news to report. Please send this on to others as I may not have everyone on my UARS distribution list. The latest news regarding the UARS Mission is given below: MEETING AT NASA HEADQUARTERS ON OCTOBER 24TH - We had a meeting yesterday at NASA Headquarters with Mike Luther (Deputy Associate Administrator) and others in Code Y. We discussed the status of the UARS and the many changes that are ongoing in the project as well as this option. Generally we received positive feedback. We have been told to proceed with the "Traceability Mission" option (see below) for the foreseeable future. The total cost of the "Traceability Mission" option including mission and science operations is about $3.7M. For comparison, the cost of the UARS mission and science operations was about $15.4M in FY01. We have received $2M so far that is being applied to the mission operations. UARS "TRACEABILITY MISSION" OPTION - This option will be primarily focussed on providing validation/calibration measurements for upcoming future missions. We hope to provide UARS validation measurements for the following future FY02 missions: TIMED, SAGE III, ENVISAT-1, ADEOS II, EOS Aqua, and SORCE. If we are successful in FY02, it may be possible (with Code Y approval) to continue for an additional time period beyond September 30, 2002, and overlap other missions. UARS INSTRUMENT DATA COLLECTION - Instrument science observations resumed on October 1st after being shutdown from September 24-30. We are now in a "baseline operational mode" wherein we have 15 contacts/day (once per orbit) as compared with 30 contacts/day (twice per orbit) in FY01. This allows the collection of about 20-30% of the possible data. Since the HALOE instrument uses the remaining working part of the tape recorder, practically all of the HALOE observations are being collected. There is enough power to operate HALOE on about 2/3rds of the days. After the launches of new missions, with an appropriate time for outgassing and new instrument checks, the UARS instruments will be operated in an "intense validation/calibrational mode" for two-week observational periods. During these periods, the UARS instruments will have 30 contacts/day so that 50-55% of the data would be collected. UARS CENTRAL DATA HANDLING FACILITY (CDHF) - Unfortunately, we will not be able to fund the UARS CDHF beyond November 30, 2001. The UARS CDHF is in the midst of final reprocessing, data archive, and supporting the effort to move to data distribution through a "new" system called PACOR-A. UARS LONG-TERM DATA ARCHIVE - This issue is currently being addressed. It is hoped that ultimately all the UARS data (including L0/L1/L2) will be moved to the DAAC and be compatible with UNIX machines. To complete this effort will require some funding beyond what has been approved. UARS RETRIEVAL - It was decided at the meeting yesterday that there will not be a Space Shuttle retrieval of the UARS. Thanks for your support. I am convinced that the community efforts over these difficult several months. Sincerely, Charles Jackman UARS Project Scientist