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TROPICS (spacecraft constellation)

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TROPICS
TROPICS satellites
Mission typeEarth observation
OperatorNASA
Websitescience.nasa.gov/missions/tropics
Mission duration1 year (planned)
Satellites 1 & 2: 0 days (final)
Satellites 3 & 4: 1 year, 6 months and 13 days (elapsed)
Satellites 5 & 6: 1 year, 5 months and 26 days (elasped)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftTROPICS
Spacecraft type3U CubeSat
BusBlue Canyon Technologies
ManufacturerMIT Lincoln Laboratory
Launch mass5.34 kg (11.8 lb)
Dimensions10 × 10 × 36 cm (3.9 × 3.9 × 14.2 in)
Start of mission
Launch date1st launch: 12 June 2022 (failed)
2nd launch: 8 May 2023 (successful)[1]
3rd launch: 26 May 2023 (successful)[2]
RocketRocket 3.3, Electron
Launch siteCape Canaveral SLC-46, Mahia LC-1
ContractorAstra Space, Rocket Lab
End of mission
Decay dateSatellites 1 & 2: 12 June 2022 (launch failure)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit (planned)
RegimeLow Earth Orbit
Altitude550 km
Inclination32.00°[3]
Period95.00 minutes
Instruments
Microwave radiometer
Earth System Science Pathfinder [4]

TROPICS (Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats)[5] is a 2023 NASA constellation of six small satellites, 3U CubeSats, that will measure temperature and moisture profiles and precipitation in tropical systems with unprecedented temporal frequency. This data will enable scientists to study the dynamic processes that occur in the inner core of the storm resulting in rapid genesis and intensification.[6] William Blackwell of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts is the principal investigator.[7][8] The constellation was initially planned to be delivered to orbit on three launches between June and July 2022.[9] Due to the loss of the first two satellites after a launch failure in June 2022,[10] the first satellites were delivered to orbit aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket on 7 May 2023.[11]

Mission overview

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TROPICS will perform very frequent measurements, similar to X-rays (but not actually observing X-rays), that cut through the overall cloud-cover to see the storm's underlying structure. The storm structures known as the eyewall – tall clouds, wind and rain around the eye – and rainbands – the rainy parts of the spiral arms – give clues about whether a storm is primed to intensify into a category 4 or 5 storm, something everyone in its path needs to know.[12]

TROPICS will consist of six 3U size CubeSats, each about 10 × 10 × 36 cm (3.9 × 3.9 × 14.2 in) and weighing just 5.34 kg (11.8 lb),[13] that use scanning microwave radiometers to measure temperature, humidity, precipitation and cloud properties.[7] The CubeSats will be launched into three separate orbital planes to enable the overall constellation to monitor changes in tropical cyclones as frequently as every 21 minutes.[8] Each CubeSat will host a high-performance radiometer scanning across the satellite track at 30 RPM to provide temperature profiles using seven channels near the 118.75 GHz oxygen absorption line, water vapor profiles using 3 channels near the 183 GHz water vapor absorption line, imagery in a single channel near 90 GHz for precipitation measurements, and a single channel at 206 GHz for cloud ice measurements.[5] The investigation was selected from NASA's third Earth Venture Instrument competition.[8][4]

Langley Research Center is the NASA Center leading the mission.[14]

Launches

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The first launch took place on 12 June 2022. The Astra Rocket 3.3 vehicle (serial number LV0010) carrying two TROPICS CubeSats for TROPICS-1 mission failed to reach orbit and the satellites were lost.[15][16] After Astra retiring their Rocket 3.3 on 4 August 2022, it was reported that NASA's intention was to wait for the upgraded Rocket 4 to be operational for the launch of the remaining four satellites of the constellation, meaning that they will be launched no earlier than 2023.[17][18] However, it was reported at a smallsat conference on 8 August that NASA was "still looking for a ride".[19][20]

On 28 September 2022, NASA announced that the remaining satellites would be launched by a different launch provider prior to the 2023 hurricane season.[21] On 23 November 2022, NASA awarded the launch of the remaining CubeSats to Rocket Lab, with the launches to be performed by two Electron rockets starting in May 2023. The first of the two Rocket Lab launches successfully took place on 8 May 2023 at 01:00 UTC.[1] The second and final of these launches successfully lifted off on 26 May 2023 at 03:46 UTC.[22]

TROPICS Pathfinder CubeSat

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The TROPICS Pathfinder CubeSat mission, consisting of a single CubeSat, was approved by NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP) Program Office in order to demonstrate the technologies planned for use on TROPICS in advance of the constellation's launch.[23]

TROPICS Pathfinder CubeSat was launched on 30 June 2021 via SpaceX's Transporter-2 rideshare mission on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b Davenport, Justin (8 May 2023). "Rocket Lab launches NASA's TROPICS satellites from New Zealand". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Rocket Lab launches final TROPICS mission". 24 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  3. ^ "TROPICS Press Kit Double Feature" (PDF). Rocket Lab. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP)". NASA. Retrieved 13 October 2018. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ a b "Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS): Mission Overview". MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Retrieved 13 October 2018. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ "TROPICS". NASA Earth Science DISASTERS Program. NASA. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2018.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ a b "EVI-3 Investigation Summary: Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS)" (PDF). NASA. September 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ a b c "NASA Selects Instruments to Study Air Pollution, Tropical Cyclones". NASA Earth. NASA. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2018. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ "NASA Awards Launch Service Contract for TROPICS Mission to Study Storm Processes" (Press release). NASA. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. ^ "NASA Selects Rocket Lab to Launch TROPICS Mission". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  11. ^ @RocketLab (7 May 2023). "Mission success! Electron has successfully deployed 2 TROPICS satellites to orbit for @NASA. This constellation aims to improve forecasting of devastating tropical storms and save lives. We're immensely proud to be part of making that possible. One down, one to go!" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ "Small Satellites for Earth Science". NASA GSFC. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2018. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  13. ^ "The TROPICS CubeSat". NASA. 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  14. ^ "Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS)". MIT. 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  15. ^ Harwood, William (12 June 2022). "Low-cost Astra rocket suffers upper stage failure, two NASA satellites lost". CBS News. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  16. ^ Kelly, Emre (12 June 2022). "After launch from Cape Canaveral, Astra rocket fails to boost NASA payloads to orbit". Florida Today. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Astra announces second quarter 2022 financial results". Astra (Press release). 4 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  18. ^ Eric Berger [@SciGuySpace] (4 August 2022). "NASA is an unreal customer. Told Astra it's willing to wait for "launch system 2.0" for the Tropics mission" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ @jeff_foust (8 August 2022). "NASA is "still looking for a ride" for the Tropics mission" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ Foust, Jeff (8 August 2022). "NASA looking for new launch of remaining TROPICS cubesats". Space News. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  21. ^ "NASA Maintains Contractual Relationship with Astra, Presses Forward with TROPICS Mission". NASA. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Electron : LC-1B : TROPICS F3 : 26 May 2023 (03:46 UTC)". forum.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Momentus Awarded NASA TROPICS Pathfinder Mission". Momentus Space (Press release). CISION PRWeb. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  24. ^ Foy, Kylie (30 June 2021). "Pathfinder Satellite Paves Way for Constellation of Tropical-storm Observers". NASA. Retrieved 22 September 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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