{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":91967,"title":"An Instrument Concept for Combined Observations of GNSS and Astronomical Sources Through a Standard Signal Path for Geodetic Applications","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10741,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10740,"level":3,"code":"TX08.1.1","title":"Detectors and Focal Planes","definition":"Detectors, focal planes and readout integrated circuits provide large-format array technologies that require high quantum efficiency (QE); low noise, high resolution, uniform, and stable response; low power and cost; and high reliability. These technologies include low-noise, high-speed, low-power and radiation hardened readout integrated circuit (ROIC) electronics; superconducting sensors; spectral detectors; polarization-sensitive detectors; radiation-hardened detectors; and micro-Kelvin and sub-Kelvin high sensitivity detectors that cover the spectrum from submillimeter wave (Far-IR) to X-ray.","exampleTechnologies":"Backshort Undergrid bolometer arrays, Mercury Cadmium Telluride and Strained Superlattice Arrays, charge coupled devices, sidecar readout integrated circuits, radiometric calibration and abnormality correction algorithms (e.g. non-uniformity)","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":2,"currentTrl":2,"benefits":"Enabling lower cost innovative remote sensing instrument development from concept through breadboard and demonstration","description":"The stability of the terrestrial reference frame is critical for future scientific needs and both Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) instruments are crucial for defining the terrestrial reference frame. Yet currently, VLBI and GNSS instrumentation operate independently, with each instrument subject to unique biases and calibration requirements. To relate these measurements requires a physical measurement of the separation vector between the phase center of the VLBI dish and the phase center of the GNSS antenna, or some proxy. We ask the following question: \"Is it possible to develop an instrument concept in which GNSS signals and astronomical source signals are sampled via the same signal chain, effectively ensuring that both measurements are made from the same antenna phase center, when processed in conjunction with measurements from a VLBI-like antenna?\" In our vision a calibrated wide-bandwidth instrument that is capable of capturing GNSS and VLBI signals of interest simultaneously, allows us to have both signals seen through a combined and unified instrument. This tight coupling of these two measurements eliminates the need for additional physical ties between instruments. Ultimately, we expect this work to contribute to improvements in the accuracy and stability of geodetic reference frames. A wide variety of earth observations, particularly those measuring earth features like sea level from airborne and space-borne platforms will benefit from these improvements. As a first step towards this larger vision, we propose for this initial incubator effort a UT1 measurement, which directly relates to a wide variety of mass transport phenomena in the earth system. As a first step towards this larger vision, we intend an instrument concept development effort which would investigate the development of a combined instrument while focusing on a straightforward goal of geodetic interest. We intend to focus on the measurement of UT1 using a VLBI dish and two low gain antennas. UT1, which is UT0 corrected for polar wander, is a routinely observed quantity so truth data will be available. Our plan is to demonstrate our concept using a VLBI dish, along with two small-aperture GNSS-like antennas together. We will utilize a High Rate Tracking Receiver (HRTR) we have developed as a data collection instrument. We have aligned our plan with scheduled installation of a NASA Space Geodesy Project VLBI antenna at McDonald Observatory in late 2017. This would serve as the source of our VLBI measurements, but a substantial fraction of the work will be done using a 3-m dish antenna at Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin (ARL:UT.) This effort is envisioned as an 18-month effort, beginning 1 January 2017 and completing 30 June 2018, with a go/no go decision point at month 12 on whether to perform the full tests with a VLBI antenna. In the first 12 months, we will primarily focus on the high-level processing architecture, explicitly defining how UT1 will be computed from measurements, as well as implementation of this architecture, and initial tests using a 3m dish and an existing HRTR available at ARL:UT. This effort will begin with a TRL level of 2, and the exit TRL level will be 3.","destinations":[{"lkuCodeId":1543,"code":"EARTH","description":"Earth","lkuCodeTypeId":526,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"DESTINATION_TYPE","description":"Destination Type"}}],"startYear":2017,"startMonth":1,"endYear":2018,"endMonth":6,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":109850,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"David","lastName":"Munton","fullName":"David C Munton","fullNameInverted":"Munton, David C","middleInitial":"C","primaryEmail":"muntond@arlut.utexas.edu","publicEmail":false,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":363458,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Pamela","lastName":"Millar","fullName":"Pamela S Millar","fullNameInverted":"Millar, Pamela S","middleInitial":"S","primaryEmail":"pamela.s.millar@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":364047,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Parminder","lastName":"Ghuman","fullName":"Parminder S Ghuman","fullNameInverted":"Ghuman, Parminder S","middleInitial":"S","primaryEmail":"p.ghuman@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"coInvestigators":[{"contactId":89443,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Courtney","lastName":"Frazier","fullName":"Courtney Frazier","fullNameInverted":"Frazier, Courtney","primaryEmail":"c_frazier@austin.utexas.edu","publicEmail":false,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":236763,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Johnathan","lastName":"York","fullName":"Johnathan York","fullNameInverted":"York, Johnathan","primaryEmail":"york@arlut.utexas.edu","publicEmail":false,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[],"transitions":[],"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"SMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4909,"organizationName":"Science Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"IIP","active":true,"description":"
Objective
New and innovative technologies will lead to flight instruments that are smaller with reduced materials, costs and build time. Furthermore, by early investment in the life cycle of an instrument and demonstrating performance, space-flight instrument builds will encounter less development risk, cost, and schedule uncertainty.
Strategy
As promising new technologies emerge from core programs in government, private industry, academic, or other non-profit organizations, proposers are encouraged to incorporate these latest developments into their instrument concepts. NRAs are expected to solicit some combination of feasibility studies; requirements analysis; design; construction of breadboards, prototypes, and engineering models; and laboratory and field demonstrations. Individual NRAs may focus on specific science questions or may address the whole science program. IIP provides a continuing source of mature instrument designs merging state-of-the-art technologies with measurement objectives available for use in the next generation of science missions.
Program Content Determined via NASA Research Announcements (NRA)
A key element of the Instrument Incubator Program's strategy is the advanced studies and ground-based demonstration phase. NRAs are released regularly to ensure that a steady stream of instrument technologies is available for future measurements. This activity will be conducted via a peer reviewed process by government, academic, and private industry research teams knowledgeable in remote-sensing and in situ measurement techniques to study global variables of the Earth system. The program encourages the use of the latest remote sensing technologies resulting from NASA's technology development programs and combining them with other government agency, academic and private industry investments to develop new instrument systems and subsystems.
ESTO's technology development approach is end-to-end: