G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R Status of the HIWRAP and URAD Conical Scan Radars for Wind Measurements Gerald Heymsfield NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center L. Li, M. Vega / NASA/ GSFC J. Carswell / Remote Sensing Solutions, Inc. D. Schaubert, J. Creticos / Univ. Mass. W. Welch / Welch Mechanical Design
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R Current High-Altitude Capability Using X-band ER-2 Doppler Radar (EDOP) More than a decade of high-altitude Doppler measurements from ER-2 aircraft over tropical cyclones capturing events such as hot towers Two beams ->vertical motions, along-track winds -> very high resolution below aircraft -> but no horizontal wind vector
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R Why Conical Scan Radar? ->3D Winds in precipitation /cloudy regions - emphasis on horizontal winds ->Surface winds through scatterometry (QuikScat, IWRAP,..) Make both measurements with one radar Imaging Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler (IWRAP) (Esteban, Carswell..2005)
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 4 Motivation for Radar on Global Hawk Long-duration (~30 hours) & high-altitude (>18 km) capability. -> e.g, reaches E. Atlantic genesis region Increased time sampling storm -> capture RI events, hot towers, etc. Fill gaps in coverage from orbiting satellites (QuikScat, TRMM,..)
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R NASA Conical Scan Radars in Development High-Altitude Imaging Wind and Rain Profiler (HIWRAP) Ku, Ka-Band (14 and 35 GHz) NASA Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) Aircraft: WB-57, Global Hawk UAV Radar (URAD) X-Band (9.4 GHz) Goddard Space Flight Center IR&D Aircraft: ER-2, Global Hawk High-Altitude Imaging Wind and Rain Profiler (HIWRAP) Ku, Ka-Band (14 and 35 GHz) NASA Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) Aircraft: WB-57, Global Hawk UAV Radar (URAD) X-Band (9.4 GHz) Goddard Space Flight Center IR&D Aircraft: ER-2, Global Hawk
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R HIWRAP NASA technology development Low power solid-state transmitter,high altitude, power efficient digital receiver & processor NASA technology development Low power solid-state transmitter,high altitude, power efficient digital receiver & processor * 3D winds (grid point retrieval) and reflectivity *Two frequencies and two incidence angles to increase the number independent wind measurements
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R HIWRAP Measurement Concept Grid Point Analysis 3D grid covering conical scan region Radial wind measurements from fore and aft looks are used to calculate horizontal wind vector Two look angles and two frequencies
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 8 HIWRAP Scanner Ka-band transceiver Ku-band transceiver Digital receiver IF/LO subsystem Dual-freq feeds Scan motor
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 9 Ka-Band Transceiver Power Amplifiers Waveguide ports to antenna Heat pipe & heat sink for PAs Test Frame
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 10 HIWRAP Development Plan Instrument Completion - Summer 2009 Test flights on NASA WB -57 high-altitude aircraft - Fall 2009 Reconfiguration and test flights for Global Hawk - early 2010 Possible NASA hurricane field experiment - Summer 2010
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 11 WB-57 Test Flights WB-57 provides an excellent simulator for the Global Hawk operating environment HIWRAP will fly on WB57 for initial instrumental and measurement concept test HIWRAP in WB57 6-foot pallet
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 12 HIWRAP in Global Hawk Integration plans and test flight plans are still evolving for 2010 Summer flights. HIWRAP & Radome
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 13 URAD Measurement Concept Earlier development than HIWRAP using conventional radar technology Originally designed for Global Hawk but now may be used for EDOP replacement Nadir capabilities of EDOP, plus a second conical/cross- track scanning beam Hardware in integration stage and near completion X-Band, tube-based (TWT) transmitter, fully steerable antenna scan up to 35 degree elevation
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 14 URAD Integration Concept for ER-2
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 15 URAD Hardware IF/LO and digital receiver enclosure High peak power transmitter and the pressure enclosure (cover off ) Antenna/ positioner
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 16 Summary Working toward completion of flight ready HIWRAP and URAD by Summer WB-57 HIWRAP flights planned for Fall 2009 Funding in discussion for HIWRAP Global Hawk integration, test flights, and hurricane field experiment in 2010 URAD targeted for EDOP replacement
G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R
Outline Conical scan radar for 3D winds in cloud/precip regions & surface winds from high-altitude manned aircraft and UAS. High-Altitude Imaging Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler (HIWRAP) development status for Global Hawk UAV Radar (URAD) development status for ER-2.