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ATS-III: Making the Images Available

ATS-III: Making the Images Available. Jean Phillips Schwerdtfeger Library, Space Science and Engineering Center University of Wisconsin-Madison ASLI Conference, 12-13 January 2005, San Diego, CA. 18 November 1967 Movie. Discussion Threads. The Spin-Scan Camera Idea

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ATS-III: Making the Images Available

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  1. ATS-III: Making the Images Available Jean Phillips Schwerdtfeger Library, Space Science and Engineering Center University of Wisconsin-Madison ASLI Conference, 12-13 January 2005, San Diego, CA

  2. 18 November 1967 Movie

  3. Discussion Threads • The Spin-Scan Camera Idea • Spin-Scan Camera on ATS-I • Spin-Scan Camera on ATS-III • Database, ATS Image Classification • Searching the Images • Conclusion

  4. The Spin-Scan Camera Idea • Verner Suomi, Father of Satellite Meteorology • Payload of ATS-I, 1966 • Payload of ATS-III, 1967 • Pioneered continuous viewing of weather from space

  5. Camera Idea, cont. • Suomi understood benefits of observing single weather events at frequent intervals • These observations not possible with polar orbiting satellites • NASA’s new geostationary satellite, Applications Technology Satellite (ATS)

  6. Camera Idea, cont. • “The weather moves, not the satellite” (Suomi) • Suomi used the spin of the satellite to scan the earth – 2400 satellite revolutions needed to produce one Earth image • The camera scanned a small strip of the Earth with each rotation, tilting slightly for the next rotation (or line of the picture) • Image of Earth created in about 20 minutes

  7. Camera Idea, cont. • Spin-Scan Camera allowed scientists to observe weather systems as they developed • A concept that revolutionized satellite meteorology • Weather satellite images and “movies” of weather in motion were seen on the news as a result of Suomi’s invention • The technology soon became operational – it was now possible to track air motion, cloud heights, rainfall, natural disasters and other weather events

  8. Spin-Scan Cloud Camera on ATS-I • Dr. Suomi was the PI for the ATS-I Spin-Scan Cloudcover Camera (SSCC) Experiment • Launched on 7 December 1966 and among other things, was designed to collect and relay cloudcover pictures • ATS-I spacecraft was a cylinder 54” long and 57.6” in diameter • Experiment successful through 16 October 1972(From: The Applications Technology Satellite Meteorological Data Catalog: Volume I)

  9. ATS-I Spacecraft From: The Applications Technology Satellite Meteorological Data Catalog: Volume I)

  10. Spin-Scan Cloud Camera From: The Applications Technology Satellite Meteorological Data Catalog: Volume I)

  11. Multicolor Spin-Scan Cloudcover Camera (MSSCC) on ATS-III • Multicolor Spin-Scan Cloudcover Camera (MSSCC) Experiment led by Dr. Verner Suomi • Launched 5 November 1967 • Provided color pictures for only three months when red and blue channels failed • Continued to provide black-and-white pictures until 11 December 1974

  12. MSSCC, cont. • Cylindrical spacecraft was 54” long and 57.6” in diameter • Two solar arrays provided 175 watts for ten experiments in addition to the MSSCC Experiment (From: The Applications Technology Satellite Meteorological Data Catalog: Volume II)

  13. ATS-III Spacecraft From: The Applications Technology Satellite Meteorological Data Catalog: Volume II

  14. Multicolor Spin-Scan Camera From: The Applications Technology Satellite Meteorological Data Catalog: Volume II

  15. BAMS Cover, February 1968ATS-III, 10 November 1967

  16. ATS-I & -III Montage, 10 November 1967BAMS, February 1968

  17. MSSCC, cont. • Purpose of adding color was to help estimate the altitudes of cloud tops • The red/blue channel ratio along with zenith angle is used to calculate cloud altitude • Color gives better contrast between clouds and background • ATS-III camera capable of full disk Earth images which is aesthetically more pleasing • ATS-III provided first useful color photography from this altitude(From: BAMS, v.49, no.2, February 1968, pp74-83)

  18. ATS Image Classification • Images include metadata gathered from the ATS Data Catalogs • Each image can be viewed at high or low resolution • Records include: thumbnail, date and time notations, geographic location, print quality designation, satellite designation

  19. Images, cont. • Source documents scanned “as is” so that digital image represents hard copy original • Images color-corrected • Record includes link to uncorrected original

  20. Uncorrected Image18 November 1967, 153255Z

  21. Color-corrected Image18 November 1967, 153255Z

  22. Searching the Images

  23. Searching, cont. • Search parameters: date and time range, image quality, and geographic locations • http://library.ssec.wisc.edu/spinscan

  24. Why Bother? • First true color images from a geostationary satellite, capturing frequent weather observations over large fraction of Earth’s surface • After it became operational, the technology improved the accuracy of forecasting • Adopted for many satellites built for NASA, NOAA, ESA, Japanese Meteorological Agency, Chinese National Satellite Meteorological Center

  25. Physical collection is degrading, needs preservation, and is difficult to use • Electronic files no longer available • Extends available climate data set to pre-SMS, allowing scientists to study weather history over a longer baseline • Legacy of Dr. Verner E. Suomi

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