User:Earth-Observations/sandbox

{{Infobox spacecraft
| Name                   = Global Precipitation Measurement
| Image                  = [[File:Visualization of the GPM Core Observatory and Partner Satellites.jpg|200px|This image depicts the GPM Core Observatory satellite orbiting Earth, with several other satellites from the GPM Constellation in the background. Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) is an international satellite mission that will set a new standard for precipitation measurements from space, providing the next-generation observations of rain and snow worldwide every three hours.]]
| Caption                = Visualization of the GPM Core Observatory and constellation satellites.

| Organisation           = NASA, JAXA
| Major_Contractors      = Ball Aerospace
| Bus                    = 
| Mission_Type           = Earth Systematic Missions
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| Satellite_Of           =  Earth
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| Launch Date            = February 14, 2014 (planned)
| Carrier_Rocket         = <!--or American "Launch_Vehicle" can be used-->
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| COSPAR_ID              = <!--Designations for pre-1963 launches should include a Greek letter, launches that failed to reach any orbit should not have a COSPAR-->
| nolink                 = <!--set to anything to prevent linking COSPAR to NSSDC database-->
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| orbit_reference        = <!--reference system-->
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| orbit_crossing         = <!--equator crossing-->

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| Planet                 = 
| Planet_Landing         = <!--Date/time-->
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| SSR                    = <!--solid-state recorder-->
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}}

Global Precipitation Measurement is a joint mission between JAXA and NASA as well as other international agencies to frequently (every 3 hours) measure the Earth's atmospheric moisture. It is part of NASA's Earth Systematic Missions program and is planned to cover nearly the complete Earth. The project office is overseen by NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center and will provide global rain maps to assist researchers in studying global climate data.

The mission consists of a multiple spacecraft. The core spacecraft, used to measure precipitation structure and to provide a calibration standard for the constellation spacecraft, is scheduled for launch on July 21, 2013 and the low-inclination spacecraft for launch in November 2014 which will provide frequent precipitation measurements on a global basis.

Spacecraft and Instruments

GPM Core Observatory

The foundation of the GPM mission is the Core Observatory satellite provided by NASA and JAXA. Data collected from the Core satellite serves as a reference standard that will unify precipitation measurements from research and operational satellites launched by a consortium of GPM partners in the United States, Japan, France, India, and Europe. The GPM constellation of satellites can observe precipitation over the entire globe every 2-3 hours. The Core satellite will measure rain and snow using two science instruments: the GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) and the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR). The GMI captures precipitation intensities and horizontal patterns, while the DPR provides insights into the three dimensional structure of precipitating particles. Together these two instruments provide a database of measurements against which other partner satellites’ microwave observations can be meaningfully compared and combined to make a global precipitation dataset.

The Core Observatory satellite will fly at an altitude of 253 miles (407 kilometers) in a non-Sun-synchronous orbit that covers the Earth from 65°S to 65°N — from about the Antarctic Circle to the Arctic Circle. The GPM Core Observatory is being developed and tested at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Once complete, a Japanese H-IIA rocket will carry the GPM Core Observatory into orbit from Tanegashima Island, Japan in 2014.

GPM Microwave Imager (GMI)

The GMI uses 13 different microwave channels to observe energy from the different types of precipitation through clouds for estimating everything from heavy to light rain and for detecting falling snow. As the satellite passes over Earth, the GMI constantly scans a region 550 miles (885 kilometers) across. The Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation built the GMI under contract with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR)

The DPR provides three-dimensional information about precipitation particles derived from reflected energy by these particles at different heights within the cloud system. The two frequencies of the DPR also allow the radar to infer the sizes of precipitation particles and offer insights into a storm’s physical characteristics. The Ka-band frequency scans across a region of 78 miles (125 kilometers) and is nested within the wider scan of the Ku-band frequency of 158 miles (254 kilometers). The Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) built the DPR.

Videos

Core GPM spacecraft being prepared for acoustic testing at GSFC.

This visualization is designed to illustrate some aspects of the Global Precipitation Measurement GPM mission. It shows the GPM spacecraft fleet orbiting the Earth.

This animation shows how nine GPM satellites will surround Earth in order to gather the most up-to-date precipitation data possible.

This animation shows the scanning capabilities of the GMI and DPR onboard the GPM Core satellite. Heavy rainfall is shown in red and light rainfall in blue.

NASA is flying an airborne science laboratory through Canadian snowstorms for six weeks in support of a difficult task of the upcoming Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission: measuring snowfall from space.

Flight path seen in yellow of NASA's DC-8 airborne science laboratory during the GCPEx 2012 field campaign.

Profile of Dalia Kirschbaum, GPM's Applications Scientist and landslide modeler.

Brief teaser video introducing the major scientific and societal benefits of the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM).

Footage montage of GPM Core Observatory in various stages of integration and testing.

GPM applications.

In Popular Culture

Swades: We, the People (Hindi: स्वदेश, Urdu: سودیش, pronounced [swəˈdeːʃ], English: Homeland) is a 2004 Indian film written, produced and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker which starts from NASA's GPM project analysis. The film stars Shahrukh Khan and debutante Gayatri Joshi. Sharukh Khan plays the role of Project Manager, GPM, NASA in this film. He explains the importance of GPM and its positive impact on Earth and thereby defends its budget. The movie, though was a commercial failure, but was highly critically acclaimed.

See also

• Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission

External links

• Official website

Category:Earth sciences Category:NASA programs