MINI-ME to uncover secrets of outer layers of Earth's atmosphere
Washington, March 12 : Reports indicate that and three scientific instruments will fly soon on the FASTSAT-HSV01 satellite to uncover the secrets in the outer layers of Earth's atmosphere.
Known as MINI-ME, PISA and TTI, these instruments recently passed a series of important final tests to prove their readiness for spaceflight.
These instruments were conceived and built at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and were integrated to the satellite and tested at NASA's Marshall Spaceflight Center, Huntsville, Alabama.
MINI-ME, acronym for Miniature Imager for Neutral Ionospheric atoms and Magnetospheric Electrons, is a low energy neutral atom imager which will detect neutral atoms formed in the plasma population of the Earth's outer atmosphere to improve global space weather prediction.
According to Michael Collier, Principal Investigator for the MINI-ME instrument at NASA Goddard, "The satellite has gone through vibration, thermal, and Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) tests and everything looks great. The MINI-ME instrument is performing as expected."
PISA is an acronym for the Plasma Impedance Spectrum Analyzer, which will test a new measurement technique for the thermal electron populations in the ionosphere, and their density structuring, which can interfere with or scatter radio signals used for communication and navigation.
PISA will tell scientists on Earth when and where the ionosphere becomes structured or turbulent.
That will give us better predictions of how space weather will affect GPS signals.
"PISA has completed the same tests that the Mini-ME endured and has just passed powered Electromagnetic Interference Test. PISA is on track for spacecraft to be packed up and delivered to the launch site," said Doug Rowland, PISA's Principal Investigator at NASA Goddard.
The Thermospheric Temperature Imager, or TTI, will provide the first global-scale measurements of thermospheric temperature profiles in the 56-168 mile (90-270 km) region of the Earth's atmosphere.
The temperature profile sets the scale height of the thermosphere, which determines the density at orbital altitudes, and therefore the aerodynamic drag experienced by military spacecraft.
According to John Sigwarth, TTI's Principal Investigator at NASA Goddard, "The TTI survived the satellite launch vibration levels, being blasted with radio waves, and the TTI had a great thermal vacuum test."
"We were able to characterize the operation of the instrument in space-like environments and the TTI is ready for launch. We are eagerly anticipating obtaining great data from orbit," he said.
--ANI
Your Yearly Horoscope for 2010:
Pisces Aquarius Capricorn Sagittarius Scorpio Libra Virgo Leo Cancer Gemini Taurus Aries
Top Searched Keywords:
Bob Hoskins Nadine Coyle Julia Gillard Naomi Watts Tony Blair Stephen Fry Elvis Presley Sir Tom Jones Pete Doherty Wayne Rooney Brooke Shields Caroline Wozniacki Demi Moore Katy Perry Pink Floyd Naomi Watts David Coleman Headley Abu Dhabi UAE Angelina Jolie Tiger Woods Lionel Messi Bob Houghton Cara Black Leander Paes Hawaiian Airlines Storm Hermine George Clooney John Lennon H1N1
TOP READ ARTICLES:
You do Realize that you Could
Learn the Art of Shaping Those Perfect Eyebrow Arches Yourself....
Women can be more Prone to
Anxiety-Induced Insomnia. Here's what you Do.
Which Skin Care Products make the
Most Sense? And What do the Experts Think?
Which should you Bet on for Great
all-round Health - a Good Diet or Moderate Levels of Exercise?
New Research goes ever Deeper into
Spiritual Healing
It has to be Easy to find Ways out
of Stress - Stress-busters are Predictable Enough
For Sparkling Clear Skin, do you
Give yourself the best of the Basics?
For every Body Care Product you
Pay for, could you do Better Improvising?
Bringing Allure to Your Eyebrows -
It Is All about Letting Them Tell Your Story
10 Great Ways to Beat Stress with
Self-Indulgence
Introduction To Bathroom Furniture
10 Home Decorating Ideas To Quickly
Update Any Room
Home Improvement: The Bathroom
Revolution
Home Remodeling: Getting Started
Acne: The
Causes and Treatment for Acne
Dandruff: The
Causes and Treatment for Dandruff
Uses of
Turmeric in Ayurvedic Remedies
The role of
meditation in Ayurveda
Achieving a
balance in the body through Ayurveda and Yoga
Johnny Depp named Highest Paid Actor in Hollywood
Pak tennis star Qureshi fails to win first US Open mixed doubles crown
Yamuna rises a meter above danger mark, but Delhi Government says no need to panic
Chinese firm to build hydro-power plants in Honduras
220 million dollars World Bank credit for Bihar flood-affected
Josh Duhamel and Katie Holmes give an interview for 'The Romantics'
OPEC cartel faced with future risks in its 50th year
Byomkesh was a tribute to Uttam, Satyajit: Abir Chatterjee
Glam Hunt 2010 launched
India to lay optical cable through Bangladesh
Apang's bail plea rejected
Assam students' body protests encroachment
Mamta inaugurates nursing college in Kolkata
Perjury trial of 1985 Air India terrorist bombing starts in Vancouver
99-year-old woman sexually assaulted in Australia
Al-Qaeda linked group claims Mogadishu suicide blasts
Northeast India to be theme of Chandigarh's crafts fair
Emerging global player India essential to solving regional challenges: US
Earthquake rocks Chile
SCR to run 18 special trains between various destinations
Fire engulfs several homes in US
Govt on alert as Yamuna flows above danger mark
Pastor cancels plans to burn Qurans, then backtracks
Release of flood water ordered
Bollywood's woman directors call shots - and are heard
Queen hilsa reigns over Kolkata palates
Nausheen Ali Sardar returning to TV, turning producer
Hundreds of children missing after Pakistan floods
US defence secretary calls Florida pastor
Holmes not ready for more kids
New York governor revives land swap offer for mosque
White House mulling call to Florida pastor
Pakistan to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr Saturday
Stockholm Water Prize conferred on US scientist
Gyllenhaal dating Bilson?
Carey Mulligan terrified of driving
BJP raids FCI godowns in Haryana, finds tonnes of foodgrains rotting
Govt says no danger to Games Village
IT team raids former Jammu and Kashmir minister's house
After PM, Omar Abdullah meets Antony; discusses AFSPA
CM should stop using 'cheap publicity tricks' for CWG: Malhotra
Monument in memory of Mizo freedom fighter to be built
Aviation sector loan restructuring package to be discussed by Banker
BJP confident of providing stable and clean government
RBI Governor seeks need to hike compensation of PSU CEOs
Country witnesses 26pc excess rains from Sep 2-8
Haryana records 39,171 mm rainfall since July 1
Haryana to convert archival records into digital format
Relief for drough-hit areas,development priorities for Munda
Mishra unhappy over progress of Puri tourism projects
