# Aqua Teleconference January 15, 2004

**On the phone:**

*Project science*: Claire Parkinson (telecon chair), Steve Platnick

*Instruments*: Vince Salomonson, Roy Spencer, Elena Lobl, Mous Chahine,
Tom Pagano, Kory Priestley

*ESMO*: Bill Guit, Angie Kelly

*Data*: Yun-Chi Lu

*HQ:* Ramesh Kakar

## 

## **Mission Ops (Guit):** see distributed ppt file for details. 

[Major activities over last month]{.underline}

[]{.mark}

-   December 3^rd^: MODIS Lunar Calibration #13

-   December 17^th^: Drag Make-Up Maneuver #13

-   January 2^nd^: MODIS Lunar Calibration #14

######## Planned Activities

-   January 15^th^: HSB Turn-On Test #13

-   January 21^st^: Drag Make-up Maneuver #14

-   January 26^th^: AMSR-E switch from AGC to MGC

-   February 1^st^: MODIS Lunar Calibration #16

-   TBD: Finland DB Test (Feb 3^rd^ or Feb 10^th^) for Aura testing

-   TBD: Star Tracker #1 Time Tag Error Fix

[]{.mark}

[Future activities]{.underline}

-   March 15: Inclination Adjust Maneuver #2

-   Summer 2004: Deep Space Calibration Maneuver, subject to science
    team approval

> -- Not prior to Aura in-orbit checkout (Aura launch currently slated
> for late May to Mid June timeframe)
>
> -- Will begin Maneuver Working Group in January for spacecraft
> technical issues

[]{.mark}

## Spacecraft Anomalies - OPEN

[]{.mark}

-   Performance during Inclination Adjust Maneuver

> Previous status:
>
> -- Observed performance different than predicted
>
> -- Caused unexpected close approach to piece of space debris
>
> -- Similar performance related issues with Yaw Slew Demo
>
> -- Performance during drag make-up maneuvers an ongoing issue
>
> -- NGST/FOT/FD/AETD Team investigating the anomaly
>
> New activities:
>
> -- Dave Lorenz investigated effective thrust vector misalignment due
> to thruster plume impingement on X-Band antenna
>
> -- Met with NGST 12/10/03 to review results of Dave's investigation
>
> -- Dave provided updated White Paper on 12/16/03
>
> -- Flight Dynamics Final Report distributed 1/5/04 concluded Dave's
> new propulsion model parameters show a great deal of promise in
> solving the inclination maneuver modeling difficulties encountered to
> date.
>
> -- NGST to provide results of simulations at next MWGM
>
> -- Aqua MWG recommends performing another inclination adjust maneuver
> as an engineering test burn to confirm the revised model

-   Propulsion system -- no change

## Solar Array Drive Assembly (SADA) potentiometer anomaly - no change

-   Star Tracker #1 Time Tag Error

> Previous status:
>
> -- Identified during ground validation of on-board computed s/c
> attitude
>
> -- Traced to FSW time tag error for Star Tracker #1 of one minor cycle
>
> -- Flight Software K-constant patch has been developed
>
> -- New STA alignment matrices have been generated
>
> -- Corrects current roll (11 arcsecs) and pitch (13 arcsecs) biases
>
> -- On-board STA residuals decrease to \~0
>
> -- Definitive attitude does not change
>
> New activities:
>
> -- Plan: Correct the time tag error and uplink new STA alignment
>
> -- AFM (Aqua FSW Maintenance) had questions/concerns about their test
> results
>
> -- Met with NGST 12/10/03 to review AFM test results
>
> -- NGST believes there may be simulation problem

-- NGST provided simulation set-up recommendations 1/14/04

## Instrument Anomalies - OPEN

[]{.mark}

-   AMSR-E 89GHz Anomaly

> Previous status:
>
> -- Reported at August 22nd AMSR-E Meeting @ GSFC
>
> -- Voltage decay began in July 2002
>
> -- Other output voltages are normal
>
> -- Under investigation by AMSR-E sensor team
>
> -- Aqua FOT Instrument Engineer Donovan Haxton is working activity
> planning and Command Authorization Meeting (CAM)

-   Frequency of Manual Settings is needed (monthly, quarterly, etc.)

> New activities:
>
> -- New voltage plot provided by AMSR-E IOT
>
> -- Will change from AGC (auto gain control) to MGC (manual) when
> requested by AMSR-E IOT
>
> -- E-mail from 1/2/04 indicates change will be requested in next few
> weeks (Date has been set for January 26th near 027/0000 GMT)

EL: During initial change from auto to manual, there will be no change
in the gain setting.

[Spacecraft]{.underline}: status = green

[]{.mark}

[Instruments]{.underline}: status = green

[]{.mark}

[Data capture/L0 processing]{.underline}: status = green (99.99592%
capture rate through end of December)

[Afternoon Constellation Inclination Adjust Maintenance]{.underline}

Backup slides to ppt file include the Aqua A-train inclination adjust
maintenance plan. No adjust will be made 3-5 months prior to other
A-train constellation spacecraft launches (Parasol \~Oct 2004,
CloudSat/CALIPSO in early 2005). Two extreme scenarios are shown in
slide 25: for adjustments made on a yearly basis (red line) vs. large,
but less frequent, adjustments (blue line). However, first need another
engineering test burn (March '04) to fully understand spacecraft
dynamics.

EL: If Aura slips another 6 months, then we don't do DSM? BG: We're
trying to plan DSM during Aura in-orbit check out period when all
spacecraft personnel will be available at GSFC. So we would likely slip
with Aura, although this action would depend on science team input.

[Other]{.underline}

AK: Terra DB capability is back on line today.

### **Project Science (Parkinson):**

The 5 Aqua AGU sessions went well. All teams were well represented, and
everyone did a nice job. Terra/Aqua re-compete results were announced
the end of December.

**Data system/EOSDIS: (Lu)**

YC: DAACs doing very well. What is status of MODIS ocean color data
processing?

VS: Ocean color processing for Aqua will transition from MODAPS to
SeaWIFS about Feb. 1^st^ (SeaWIFS will also distribute the data). Terra
ocean color processing will stop at that time. SST for both Terra and
Aqua will continue in MODAPS for the considerable future.

YL: MODIS ocean color archive will still be at the GSFC DAAC? VS: Not
sure, guessing it may not be.

**Science Working Group for Data -- SWGD:**

No report.

**CERES (Priestley):**

Instruments nominal.

Code for Edition 2 of the Level 1b radiance data product and level 2/3
ERBE-Like TOA flux data products is ready to submit to the DAAC. Edition
2 will correct the small but significant changes in gain that have
occurred since launch on 2 of the 6 channels.

Terra global advanced products (SSF, CRS, and SRBAVG) will be available
this spring in Edition 2 validated form. This will be the first global
redefinition of the radiation budget since the ERBE data release in
1988. Errors for all sources from calibration, to angle and time
sampling have now been reduced below 1 W/m\^2. When Aqua new ADMs are
produced, they should be able to reach this same level, and time
sampling errors can be further reduced in combined Terra/Aqua data
products. One of the major advances is accurate fluxes by cloud type
(not just gridded monthly means as for ERBE). For Aqua this is critical
to take advantage of the A-train capabilities.

Budget cuts of 20% from those proposed, however, will slow down the
delivery of Aqua data products, including the ADMs. Still have no final
number from HQ, so Aqua schedules are TBD. Overall, data product budgets
have dropped by more than 30% since FY02.

**MODIS (Salomonson):**

Ready to start 1^st^ major reprocessing of Aqua (land and atmospheres);
ocean reprocessing will begin in March.

Three atmosphere products (high spatial resolution moisture/temperature
profiles, reflectance-based 0.94 µm precipitable water, and cirrus
reflectance) were not funded for algorithm maintenance. Dangerous to
have them continue on un-attended. May have to quit producing these
products.

RK: Will discuss with HQ personnel. Indicates there are some holes in
the new science team.

**AMSR-E (Lobl, Spencer):**

The Brazilian mission proceeded w/out P-3 aircraft. Weather was very
good, but not certain how useful the data will be.

Two validation campaigns in 2004: soil moisture experiment in AZ/Mexico
in July/August (SMEX04), then back to Punta Arenas, Chile for Antarctic
campaign. Will begin planning for both campaigns in coming weeks. P-3 is
going through maintenance work. Wallops still deciding whether the
aircraft structure needs to be looked at. If this is the case, then
there will likely be no 2004 missions (both campaigns would be cancelled
without P-3). The hope is that this maintenance will be delayed until
2005 and the 2 missions can go ahead in '04.

### **AIRS/AMSU/HSB (Chahine, Pagano):**

TP: AIRS STM will be March 30 through April 1 at the Greenbelt Marriott.
Encourage participation from all those interested.

MC: Have reached V3.5 milestone where have now incorporated QC to
eliminate outliers. This is of particular interest for NWP.

MC: Regarding Deep Space Maneuver, would like to see quantitative report
on the impact of the Terra DS maneuvers on data products. VS: can
provide viewgraphs of response vs. scan angle (RVS) results, but don't
have product impact specifically since the maneuver was used to
corroborate the use of the present RVS characterization and was
successful in establishing a higher level of confidence in the products.
But will try to provide results in the sense of product impact. KP:
CERES has similar situation as MODIS. DSM was used to rigorously specify
uncertainties but didn't change algorithms/products per-se. Telecon:
Need to include all instrument science teams in the discussion. BG: The
DS Maneuver Working Group meeting is being set up to address spacecraft
technical issues, not scientific impact.

MC: Would like from AMSR-E and MODIS a global monthly SST image (same
month) for a February science colloquium at GSFC. VS: What will be the
point of the comparison? MC: The point will be that SST retrievals
between the two methods have evolved to agreement \~1k or better. Any
month will do (suggested July 2003). EL: Will request an image from
Wentz. MC: Can MODIS also provide global map of cloud products? VS, SP:
daily and monthly quicklook imagery of all main cloud products are
available on the MODIS Atmosphere Web site (go to
<http://modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov/IMAGES/index.html>, then click on
appropriate L3 Terra or Aqua image links listed in left-hand panel).

### **HQ (Kakar):**

CP: Has anybody determined the impact of the President's Moon/Mars
initiative on Earth Sciences?

RK: Not clear. No information to share at present.

**Outreach, web site, etc.:**

No report.

**Next Telecon:** Thursday, February 5, 2:00 PM EST

Minutes are being placed on the following site:
<http://aqua.nasa.gov/minutes>. Corrections/additions should be sent to
Steve Platnick.