Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 11.3.
Early design of autonomous attitude control mode transitions
power to a lunar outpost so that exploration will not be limited by
the available energy. Intelligent robotics will assist the crew in explor-
ing, setting up, operating, and maintaining the outpost. Autonomous
systems will reduce mission risk by alerting the crew to impending fail-
ures, automatically reconfiguring in response to changing conditions,
and performing hazardous and complex operations.
The plan continues:
Therefore, NASA's long-term Earth science plan is to use sentinel or-
bits (e.g., Lagrange points, geostationary, and medium Earth orbit)
and constellations of smart satellites as parts of an integrated, interac-
tive “sensorweb” observing system that complements satellites in low
Earth orbit, airborne sensors, and surface-based sensors. NASA will
mature active remote sensing technologies (radars and lasers) to take
global measurements of Earth system processes from low and geosta-
tionary Earth orbits.
As new types of Earth observations become available, information
systems, modeling, and partnerships to enable full use of the data for
scientific research and timely decision support will become increas-
ingly important. The sensorweb observing systems of the future will
perform satellite constellation management, automated detection of
environmental phenomena, tasking of other elements of the observing
network, onboard data processing, data transmittal, and data archival
and distribution to users of earth observations. The sensorweb will be
linked to “modelwebs” of prediction systems enabled by NASA and
formed by Agency partners to improve the forecast services they pro-
vide. NASA's investment in these areas (through such means as the
Advanced Information Systems Technology program) will help the
Nation take full advantage of enhanced information availability. In
