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At least 865 records · Page 48
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2021

Performance Assessment of the Eastern Range Titusville-Cocoa 915-MHz Doppler Radar Wind Profiler

The United States Space Force (USSF) is responsible for space vehicle launches at its Eastern Range (ER), which includes the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS). Multiple systems are used to measure the atmosphere at the ER, including suites of Doppler Radar Wind Profilers (DRWPs)that operate at 915MHz and measure winds within the lowest few kilometers of the atmosphere. Observations of boundary layer winds can be used for multiple applications, including serving as input to toxic dispersion models and characterizing winds for low-level aborts. The USSF upgraded the Titusville-Cocoa(TICO)DRWP, which collected data during the spring and summer of 2020. The USSF also requested NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Natural Environments Branch (NE) to evaluate wind output from this DRWP system. This report describes the system and the analyses that MSFC NE conducted to demonstrate the system’s wind accuracy relative to balloons from the Automated Meteorological Profiling System (AMPS), data availability, and effective vertical resolution (EVR).

B. J. Barbre↗
NASA NTRS2004

Genesis failure investigation report

On January 7, 2001, the Genesis spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral. Its mission was to collect solar wind samples and return those samples to Earth for detailed analysis by scientists. The mission proceeded successfully for three-and-a-half years. On September 8, 2004, the spacecraft approached Earth, pointed the Sample Return Capsule (SRC) at its entry target, and then fired pyros that jettisoned the SRC. The SRC carried the valuable samples collected over the prior 29 months. The SRC also contained the requisite hardware (mechanisms, parachutes, and electronics) to manage the process of entry, descent, and landing (EDL). After entering Earth’s atmosphere, the SRC was expected to open a drogue parachute. This should have been followed by a pyro event to release the drogue chute, and then by a pyro event to deploy the main parachute at an approximate elevation of 6.7 kilometers. As the SRC descended to the Utah landing site, helicopters were in position to capture the SRC before the capsule touched down. On September 8, 2004, observers of the SRC’s triumphant return became concerned as the NASA announcer fell silent, and then became even more alarmed as they watched the spacecraft tumble as it streaked across the sky. Long-distance cameras clearly showed that the drogue parachute had not deployed properly.

UNKNOWN↗
NASA NTRS2003

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) will be launched in August 2005 by an Atlas HIB expendable launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It will deliver to Mars orbit a payload to conduct remote sensing science observations, identify and characterize sites for future landers, and provide critical telecom/navigation relay capability for follow-on missions.

Mars↗
NASA NTRS2001

DS1 Technology Validation Report

Deep Space 1 (DS1) launched from Cape Canaveral on October 24, 1998. During a highly successful primary mission, it tested 12 advanced, high-risk technologies in space. In an extremely successful extended mission, it encountered Comet Borrelly and returned the best images and other science data ever from a comet. During its fully successful hyperextended mission, it conducted further technology tests. The spacecraft was retired on December 18, 2001.

UNKNOWN↗
NASA NTRS2018

In-Flight Operation of the Dawn Ion Propulsion System Through Completion of the Final Orbit Around Dwarf Planet Ceres

The Dawn mission, part of NASA’s Discovery Program, has as its goal the scientific exploration of the two most massive main-belt objects, Vesta and Ceres. The Dawn spacecraft was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on September 27, 2007 on a Delta-II 7925H- 9.5 (Delta-II Heavy) rocket that placed the 1218-kg spacecraft onto an Earth-escape trajectory. On-board the spacecraft is an ion propulsion system (IPS) developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the heliocentric transfer to Vesta, orbit capture at Vesta, transfer between Vesta science orbits, departure and escape from Vesta, heliocentric transfer to Ceres, orbit capture at Ceres, transfer between Ceres science orbits, and orbit maintenance maneuvers. Full-power thrusting from December 2007 through October 2008 was used to successfully target a Mars gravity assist flyby in February 2009 that provided an additional DV of 2.6 km/s. Deterministic thrusting for the heliocentric transfer to Vesta resumed in June 2009 and concluded with orbit capture at Vesta on July 16, 2011. From July 2011 through September 2012 the IPS was used to transfer to all the different science orbits at Vesta and to escape from Vesta orbit. Cruise for a rendezvous with Ceres began in August 2012 and completed in late December 2014. From December 2014 through June 2016 the IPS was used for transiting the spacecraft to all science orbits at Ceres including the final orbit for Dawn’s primary mission, called the low altitude mapping orbit (LAMO), a circular orbit at a mean altitude above Ceres of approximately 385 km. Dawn met or exceeded all pre-launch science requirements and Dawn's prime mission concluded on June 30, 2016. Dawn subsequently received NASA approval for two extended missions at Ceres, called XM1 and XM2. During XM1 IPS was used for orbit maintenance and to transit the spacecraft to several new, higher-altitude science orbits, ending in an elliptical orbit at a maximum altitude of approximately 38,000 km. In XM2, IPS operations included transiting the Dawn spacecraft to its final, highly elliptical orbit at Ceres ranging from 35 km perigee to 4,800 km apogee. Science data acquisition will continue in XM2 until the hydrazine is exhausted, which is expected to occur between August and October 2018. Dawn has successfully completed all science goals for both the primary and XM1 extended missions. To date the IPS has been operated for approximately 51,250 hours, consumed approximately 416 kg of xenon, and provided a delta-V of almost 11.5 km/s, a record for an on-board propulsion system. The IPS performance characteristics are close to the expected performance based on analysis and testing performed pre-launch. Dawn’s IPS continues to be fully operational as of June 2018. This paper provides an overview of Dawn’s mission objectives and the results of Dawn IPS mission operations for XM1, and XM2 through June 2018.

Rayman, Marc D.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Amino Acid Abundances and Compositions in Iron and Stony-Iron Meteorites

The organic compositions of carbonaceous chondrite meteorites have been extensively studied; however, there have been fewer reports of other meteorite classes, and almost none from iron meteorites, which contain much less carbon than carbonaceous chondrites but make up ~4% of observed meteorite falls. Here, we report the bulk amino acid content of three iron meteorites (Campo del Cielo, IAB; Canyon Diablo, IAB; and Cape York, IIIAB) and both the metal and silicate portions of a pallasite (Imilac). We developed a novel method to prepare the samples for analysis, followed by hot water extraction and analysis via liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Free amino acid abundances ranging from 301 to 1216 pmol/g were observed in the meteorites, with the highest abundance in the silicate portion of the pallasite. Although some of the amino acid content could be attributed to terrestrial contamination, evidence suggests that some compounds are indigenous. A suite of C(5) amino acids was observed with a distinct distribution favoring a straight chain (n‐pentanoic acid) structure; this straight chain dominance is suggestive of that observed in thermally altered stony meteorites. Amino acids were also observed in terrestrial iron granules that were milled and analyzed in the same way as the meteorites, although the distribution of detected amino acids was different. It is possible that similar formation mechanisms existed in both the meteorites and the terrestrial iron, or that observed amino acids resulted from reactions of precursors during sample preparation. This work suggests that iron meteorites should not be overlooked for contributions of amino acids and likely other soluble organic molecules to the early Earth. Future studies of iron–nickel meteorites and asteroids, such as Psyche, may provide further insights into their potential organic inventory.

Jamie E. Elsila↗
NASA NTRS2021

Large-scale space use of large juvenile and adult smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata: implications for management

The smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata is an endangered species endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. The only known viable populations occur in the USA along both coasts of Florida and in the western Bahamas. Little is known about habitat use and movement ecology of large juvenile and adult smalltooth sawfish. Although Critical Habitat — a management designation in the USA — has been identified for small juveniles, it has yet to be identified for these life stages. Between May 2016 and April 2019, we used passive acoustic telemetry and 3 large data sharing networks of receivers to track movements of 43 large juvenile and adult smalltooth sawfish. During this study, 24 females and 19 males were implanted with transmitters with estimated 4 or 10 yr battery lives. These tagged individuals were detected off the southeastern USA on 461 receivers ranging from off the coast of Brunswick, Georgia, to the lower Florida Keys, and along the Gulf coast to Apalachee Bay, Florida. Seasonal migrations were undertaken by 58% (43% mature; 57% immature) of the tagged individuals, with the remainder being apparent residents of their tagging locations. Tagged sawfish from both size classes and of both sexes migrated, which indicates that neither sex nor length is a predictor of whether a sawfish will migrate or not. Although both coasts of Florida were used for migration, most individuals consistently used the same coast when they migrated. The areas surrounding Boca Grande, Cape Canaveral, and the lower Florida Keys were heavily visited sites that could be further evaluated as potential Critical Habitat for these life stages. Understanding the movement patterns of this Critically Endangered species is essential for creating policies to protect areas important for promoting growth of the population.

Pristis pectinata Habitat use · Acoustic monitorin↗
NASA NTRS2021

Performance Assessment of the Eastern Range Mosquito Lagoon 915-MHz Doppler Radar Wind Profiler

Please find enclosed the performance assessment for the Mosquito Lagoon 915-MHz Doppler Radar Wind Profiler (DRWP). This assessment was conducted following the installation of the new DRWP systems at the Eastern Range. DRWP profiles were compared to Automated Meteorological Profiling System balloons launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Launching balloons from the DRWP site was discussed, but was determined to be unfeasible. Therefore, these results include errors due to the spatial separation of winds. Mean wind component deltas generally ranged between -1.4-2.0 m/s between the balloons and DRWP systems. Data availability at discrete altitudes ranged from 7% to 98% with the least amount of available profiles being in the upper altitude ranges between 4000 m and 5000 m as well as below 300 m. The effective vertical resolution was not able to be estimated in this study, likely due to the relatively small dataset. The results from this analysis were requested by the United States Space Force for use of the acceptance of the DRWP system and for internal EV44 reference.

meteorology↗
NASA NTRS2019

Multi-Agency Annual Southeastern Beach Mouse Habitat Occupancy Monitoring

The southeastern beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris, hereafter SEBM), a federally threatened species was identified by Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) as one of the top five priorities for management. The Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Environmental Management Branch was asked to provide support in the form of population monitoring for SEBM on KSC and the surrounding properties. When we began the project, the SEBM was known to occupy sites ranging from Volusia through Brevard and Indian River Counties, but the exact distribution within the Federal lands encompassing the Cape Canaveral Barrier Island Complex (CCBIC) was not well known. The broad range of habitat conditions encompassing the species’ historical range and the diversity of sites historically known to contain SEBM required a landscape-scale approach for both monitoring the population and for investigating species habitat relationships. We designed a monitoring plan for the SEBM with the goal of estimating the habitat occupancy of beach mice annually each winter/spring throughout the entire area of suitable coastal habitat (approximately 72 km linear distance along the beach). Methods were tested in a 2008 pilot study, and during 2010-2018 we monitored the proportion of coastal habitat occupied by the SEBM on the CCBIC. Monitoring was focused on using dynamic habitat occupancy surveys with data collected with rapid assessment techniques (i.e., track tubes or live-traps) to detect SEBM occurrence at sampling stations. An important component of the study design was the use of repeated samples that provided the information needed to estimate detectability. Measuring detectability was required to account for the fact that surveys could fail to detect animals at sites at which they were actually present (Mackenzie et al., 2002). This monitoring framework is very flexible, allowing numerous hypothesis to be tested about how various factors influence beach mouse occupancy using habitat, geographic, and environmental covariates. Our survey has been the longest survey conducted for any of the seven extant beach mouse subspecies and has encompassed nearly the entire remaining range of the SEBM. Although occupancy surveys of other beach mouse subspecies via track tubes have been conducted on the Gulf coast of Florida by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and various universities, we expanded previous methods to fit unique aspects of the SEBM, and thus our study was very different from any of the previous studies. To achieve this specificity, we employed an adaptive approach throughout the study, with all activities aimed at providing managers with information related to environmental compliance and natural resource management on KSC and the surrounding Federal lands.

Eric Douglas Stolen↗
NASA NTRS2019

Measuring Metapopulation Characteristics of the Southeastern Beach Mouse on Kennedy Space Center using a Dynamic Habitat Occupancy Approach

The Cape Canaveral Barrier Island Complex (CCBIC) represents the largest (72 km) continuous coastal habitat supporting the core population of the threatened southeastern beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris) in Florida. Despite protection throughout the subspecies’ remaining range, storm activity during the past two decades has de-stabilized coastal dune and coastal strand habitat required for beach mouse survival. Our long-term goal is to provide information to the management process to ensure a sustainable population on the CCBIC in light of sea-level rise, extreme storm events, and continued land development supporting the multi-user spaceport.Because beach mice populations are affected by storms (hurricanes, tropical storms, nor’easters), it is important to understand the species-habitat relations during periods with and without storm impacts. Conventional wisdom is that coastal dune and coastal strand are the preferred habitats, but coastal scrub habitat may be important because it is less affected by storm impacts (e.g., overwash, escarpment, sand deposition, etc.) and thus may serve as a refugia. In addition, genetic studies have shown some evidence for reduced dispersal between regions on CCBIC (Kalkvik et al., 2012; Zimmerman et al., 2015). We compared site occupancy dynamics for coastal dune, coastal strand, and coastal scrub habitat over three quarters (seasons) and determined the pattern of spatial correlation in habitat occupancy dynamics for locations at a range of distances in coastal dune, coastal strand, and coastal scrub habitats along the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) coastline (Figures1 and 2). Although habitat occupancy is very useful for understanding species-habitat relationships,in its simplest form it ignores differences in abundance between sites. Because information on abundance may inform management efforts and provide knowledge regarding status of the population, we tested measuring abundance state based on the number of detections in tracking tubes. Small mammal populations often fluctuate in a cyclic manner over time. These fluctuations make populations more susceptible to extinction and make trend detection more difficult. Efficient methods of measuring abundance across time and space are needed for monitoring trends.The purpose of this project was to:1.Estimate southeastern beach mouse habitat occupancy parameters in coastal dune, coastal strand, and coastal scrub habitats using a combination of tracking tubes and traps; 2.Model the spatial relationships of the effect of habitat (coastal dune, coastal strand, and coastal scrub) on parameters as a function of distance; and 3.Compare the reliability and efficiency of our survey methods and evaluate the potential to develop an abundance index.

Eric Douglas Stolen↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

22 N HPGP Thruster Life Testing

In the ever-changing paradigm of efficient and capable spacecraft design, scientific missions continue pushing the envelope enabling spacecraft subsystems to deliver effective solutions to meet challenging new mission/spacecraft needs. From an in-space storable liquid chemical propulsion perspective, monopropellant hydrazine has been, and continues to be, a dependable propellant with considerable flight heritage, a variety of engine thrust classes available from multiple vendors, with repeatable and reliable performance. Additionally, the space propulsion industry has learned to successfully handle hydrazine, its regulations, the safety protocols, the personnel protective equipment, and the unique training standards–all requisite for loading spacecraft propulsion systems with toxic hypergolic hydrazine. The question now arises as to “what is next for in-space chemical propulsion?” Further, with the evolution and concrete advancements in innovative in-space green propellant technologies, capable of providing realizable benefits to scientific missions, concern over the reliability and availability of this higher performing and safer to handle class of propellants is waning. As science missions move forward with the potential flight in fusion of High Performance Green Propulsion (HPGP), NASA and its industry partners are working to address any gaps in system reliability, performance, or unique operational considerations. Propellant technology that offers both higher performance and significant reduction in personnel hazards compared to hydrazine presents an attractive propulsion subsystem design opportunity. Increased propulsion subsystem performance can result in lower spacecraft launch mass, larger scientific payloads, or extended on-orbit lifetimes. Mission trades using green propulsion technologies have been documented on multiple NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) mission classes, examining various parameters and requirements to support mission architectures in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), High Earth Orbit (HEO), geostationary, lunar, planetary, and Quasi-halo orbit around Sun-Earth Lagrange point (L2). The results of these trade studies show promising, attainable benefits. The perceived programmatic risk of flying a newer propulsion technology has, unfortunately, not outweighed the benefits to date. To take advantage of the improved performance and mitigate programmatic risk, HPGP engines must demonstrate life testing at higher propellant throughputs than have currently been demonstrated. In an effort to proactively address the challenges with technology infusion into a risk-averse community, NASA and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA) outlined a collaborative Implementing Arrangement (IA) for the respective agencies to pursue increased HPGP technology maturation. This initial IA effort began in 2013, fresh off the heels of the successful PRISMA HPGP technology demonstration mission. The IA targeted objective is to reduce risk to potential future HPGP missions and fully characterize the LMP-103S propellant and associated engine performance. Over the past eight years, HPGP has flown in propulsion systems on twenty-five(25) spacecraft from seven(7) different Launch Ranges around the globe and on seven (7) different Launch Vehicles. Six(6) of these launches involved multiple loading operations for multiple spacecraft. For U.S. Range operations, nine (9) HPGP systems have been processed at Vandenberg Space Force Base(VSFB):six(6) in 2017, and three (3) in 2018. Six (6) more have been processed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS)in May 2020, with three (3) systems launched in June 2020 and the remaining three (3) system were left loaded and ready until their launch in August of 2020. Three (3) more systems have been processed at Wallops Flight Facility(WFF)and launched in June 2021. In addition, these propulsion subsystems employed heritage propulsion subsystem component such as valves, filters, and pressure transducers, and have further demonstrated nominal functionality in both diaphragm and Propellant Management Device (PDM) propellant tanks. Based on these successes, HPGP technology continues to be considered for NASA Science Mission Directorate missions at GSFC. The work presented herein represents many years of development and collaborative efforts to successfully align higher performance, low toxicity hydrazine alternatives into scientific missions. NASA GSFC Propulsion Engineering, in collaboration with Bradford ECAPS, has developed mission specific thruster design and testing requirements to establish GSFC’s desired test conditions and firing sequences.In2017, the first flight-like 22N HPGP thruster Engineering Qualification Model (EQM-1)was designed and built by Bradford ECAPS to prove out the thruster design, materials, build process, and test campaign with respect to NASA GSFC critical component and mission requirements. This test program was developed to comprehensively test the thruster, the technology, and ultimately increase the 22N HPGP Technology Readiness Level(TRL). EQM-1was tested to environmental qualification levels prior to hot fire performance testing to represent the relevant end-to-end environment (launch to on-orbit operation)with required margin. This thruster demonstrated steady-state and pulse mode operational capability with propellant thruster throughput up to~53kg.At this throughput level, the EQM-1 engine began to present off-nominal performance and the test campaign was halted to allow for non-destructive testing and identify the root cause for the an omalous performance. Capitalizing on the successful elements of the EQM-1 campaign, an upgraded 22N HPGP EQM-2 has been manufactured by Bradford ECAPS to meet the complete GSFC requirements. The EQM-2 thruster’s test campaign has further demonstrated the robustness of the HPGP propulsion technology and increased the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) by undergoing a full acceptance test program, then proceeding into qualification, including environmental testing (vibration and shock to qualification levels),as well as hot-fire life testing, operating at steady-state and pulse modes with increased propellant thruster throughput to~150kg. The HPGP thruster performance testing enables effective HPGP thruster readiness evaluation to meet NASA candidate mission requirements in the future.

High↗
NASA NTRS2021

Population Viability Analysis (PVA) as a Platform for Predicting Outcomes of Management Options for the Florida Scrub-Jay in Brevard County

The Florida scrub-jay (FSJ) is a species in decline because of extinction debt caused by habitat fragmentation and degradation. Understanding and managing the species and its habitats is challenging due to the complex interactions among the social system, a dynamic mosaic of scrub habitat, and active management. To provide insights into the possible fates of the FSJ populations of mainland, cape, and island sections of Brevard County, we modeled the population dynamics using the Vortex population viability analysis (PVA) software. Vortex is an individual-based simulation that allowed us to include such factors as demographic rates dependent on habitat state, impact of helpers on breeding success, and helper to breeder transition probabilities responding to availability of nearby vacant optimal habitat and vacancies due to the death of breeders. Detailed modeling of the FSJ was possible only because a lot of data about the species and its habitats have been gathered over decades of intensive research. We followed a phased approach to constructing population models that incorporated the best available science and data to address a variety of conservation actions. The first phase focused on constructing a model that incorporates sociobiology and source-sink habitat dynamics. This model allowed us to address some of the most important questions about population size and habitat quality. Once the model framework was in place, we considered the real landscapes and actual local populations, rather than just generic representations of typical FSJ dynamics. After examining the viability of the metapopulations under current conditions, we explored the likely consequences of various management actions that might slow or reverse population declines.

Population Viability Analysis↗
NASA NTRS2021

The Thermal Infrared Optical Depth of Mineral Dust Retrieved from Integrated CALIOP and IIR Observations

Recent studies reveal that a higher fraction of coarse mineral dust particles than that estimated by climate model simulations has been observed in the atmosphere, leading to a more significant positive (i.e., warming) longwave (LW) thermal infrared (TIR) direct radiative effect (DRE). However, the magnitude of this DRE remains highly uncertain because our understanding of the radiative properties, quantitatively represented by the optical depth of dust, especially information on the TIR, remains limited. This study presents a simple approach to retrieve the thermal infrared dust aerosol optical depth (DAODTIR) over oceans during nighttime using the observations from the Infrared Imaging Radiometer (IIR) and the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) onboard CALIPSO. For each cloud-free dust-laden profile identified by the IIR-CALIOP observation, a Lookup-Table (LUT) of the 10.6 μm IIR band brightness temperatures difference (dBT) under different DAODTIR with respect to their dust-free BTs is constructed based on the CALIOP retrieved dust vertical profile and pre-assumed dust scattering properties using a fast radiative transfer model. Then the DAODTIR is retrieved by projecting the IIR-observed dBT on the LUT. Sensitivity studies show that the DAODTIR retrieval at 10.6 μm is more susceptible to the dust particle size distribution (PSD) assumption than dust refractive indices. To estimate the uncertainty caused by PSD assumption, two DAODTIR retrieval products, one based on the dust PSD from the AERONET at Cape Verde and the other on an in situ measured PSD from the recent Fennec campaign, are provided. The retrieval uncertainty is mainly contributed by the BT difference between the observation and simulation using auxiliary atmospheric data. The climatology of the retrieval from 2013 to 2019 shows confident spatiotemporal variations of DAODTIR with the global-averaged value of 0.006 and 0.008 based on different pre-assumed dust PSDs. Climatological results agree reasonably well with two independent DAODTIR retrieval products based on the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) over the active dust transport regions, such as North and Tropical Atlantic (r = 0.904 and 0.819) and Indian Ocean (r = 0.832). The seasonal and interannual variation is also well-compared (r = 0.758) with AERONET coarse-mode AOD at 97 selected sites. The synergic CALIOP observation allows the retrieved DAODTIR to directly compare with the extrapolated DAODTIR from DAOD in visible (i.e., 532 nm), which helps evaluate the observational constraints on DAODTIR. This study offers a unique prospect of collocating active lidar and passive IR observations for retrieving dust DAODTIR.

aerosol↗
NASA NTRS2022

Commercial fishery bycatch risk for large juvenile and adult smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) in Florida waters

1.Incidental catch of marine species can create ecological and economic issues, particularly for endangered species. The smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) is endemic to the Atlantic Ocean and listed as Endangered in the US Endangered Species Act. One of its major threats is bycatch mortality in commercial fisheries. 2.Despite the protection afforded by the US Endangered Species Act, smalltooth sawfish are still captured as bycatch in commercial fisheries. Acoustic and satellite tag data collected on 59 sawfish between 2011 and 2019 were analysed to assess commercial fishery bycatch risk for large juveniles and adults off Florida. This study focused on shrimp trawl, south-east coastal gillnet, and shark bottom longline fisheries, as these were identified in the recovery plan as having the greatest potential threats to recovery. 3.Bycatch risk associated with the shrimp trawl fishery was significantly higher than the other fisheries, indicating that this fishery currently poses the greatest threat to recovery. 4.Bycatch risk was concentrated in all seasons in the Gulf of Mexico adjacent to the lower Florida Keys for the shrimp trawl fishery, off Cape Canaveral in the south-east coastal gillnet fishery, and in the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the Florida Keys in the shark bottom longline fishery. 5.Tagging location and sex were predictors of bycatch risk. Individuals tagged in Charlotte Harbor had the highest shrimp trawl bycatch risk. Females tagged in south Florida tended to reside in the deepest water, which is where shrimp trawl effort is highest. Therefore, females may be at more risk in these deeper waters. 6.Results from this study indicate a year-round closure of waters off south-west Florida to the shrimp trawl fishery between Charlotte Harbor and the western Florida Keys would reduce sawfish bycatch, and thus mortality, which is in line with recovery plan goals.

acoustic monitoring, bycatch, commercial fisheries↗
NASA NTRS2021

Mars 2020 Perseverance trajectory reconstruction and performance from launch through landing

The Mars 2020 (M2020) Mission carrying Perseverance, the most advanced rover ever sent to Mars, successfully launched on an Atlas V 541 (AV-088) launch vehicle from the Eastern Test Range (ETR) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida at 11:50:00 UTC (T-Zero time) on July 30, 2020. After some station reconfiguration, carrier/telemetry were locked at both Deep Space Network (DSN) Canberra and Goldstone stations. Perseverance entered the Martian atmosphere at 20:36:50 Spacecraft Event Time (SCET) UTC, and landed inside Jezero Crater at 20:43:49 SCET UTC on February 18, 2021. Confirmation of nominal landing was received at the DSN Goldstone and Madrid tracking stations via the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter at 20:55:11 Earth Received Time (ERT) UTC. This paper summarizes in detail the actual vs. predicted performance in terms of launch vehicle events, launch vehicle injection performance, actual DSN spacecraft lockup, trajectory correction maneuver performance, Entry, Descent, and Landing events, and overall trajectory and geometric characteristics.

Abilleira, Fernando↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Analysis of the Tropospheric Doppler Radar Wind Profiler Measurement Accuracy

Space launch vehicle trajectory design uses atmospheric winds to determine vehicle performance and structural margin assessments prior to flight. For launches at the United States Space Force’s Eastern Range (ER) at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), tropospheric wind measurements come from either in-situ or remote sensing instrumentation. The use of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Kennedy Space Center (KSC) 48-MHz Tropospheric Doppler Radar Wind Profiler (TDRWP) has become the primary wind measurement source for several launch vehicles. Extensive evaluations of TDRWP data have occurred to quantify the system performance. This includes quantifying the accuracy of wind estimates over the entire sampling altitude as well as at discrete altitudes. This paper will describe methodology and analyses used to quantify the measurement accuracy of TDRWP data when operating in an alternative mission support mode over a 2-year period from March 2020 to March 2022.

Meghan E. Carrico↗