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

Status of the HIWRAP and URAD Conical Scan Radars for Wind Measurements

Gerald Heymsfield NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

(Gerald.Heymsfield@nasa.gov)

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)

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?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)

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Motivation for Radar on Global Hawk

Motivation for Radar on Global Hawk

Long-duration (~30 hours) & high-altitude (>18 km) capability.

-> e.g, reaches E. Atlantic genesis regionIncreased time sampling storm

-> capture RI events, hot towers, etc.

Fill gaps in coverage from orbiting satellites (QuikScat, TRMM, ..)

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NASA Conical Scan Radars in Development

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

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HIWRAPHIWRAP

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 ConceptHIWRAP Measurement ConceptHIWRAP Measurement ConceptHIWRAP Measurement Concept

Grid Point Grid Point AnalysisAnalysis

• 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

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HIWRAP ScannerHIWRAP Scanner

Ka-band transceiver

Ku-band transceiver Digital receiver

IF/LO subsystem

Dual-freq feeds

Scan motor

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Ka-Band TransceiverKa-Band Transceiver

Power Amplifiers

Waveguide ports to antennaHeat pipe & heat

sink for PAs

Test Frame

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HIWRAP Development PlanHIWRAP 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

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WB-57 Test Flights 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

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HIWRAP in Global HawkHIWRAP in Global Hawk

•Integration plans and test flight plans are still evolving for 2010 Summer flights.

HIWRAP & Radome

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URAD Measurement ConceptURAD 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

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URAD Integration Concept for ER-2URAD Integration Concept for ER-2

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URAD HardwareURAD Hardware

IF/LO and digital receiver enclosure

High peak power transmitter and the pressure enclosure (cover off)

Antenna/ positioner

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SummarySummary

Working toward completion of flight ready HIWRAP and URAD by Summer 2009.

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

G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R

OutlineOutline

•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.