Lidar
Noblis provides systems engineering support to the multi-agency development of a Doppler Wind Lidar (DWL) satellite mission to measure global tropospheric wind profiles for weather forecasting and climate research. Noblis supports the Working Group and the Mission Definition Team on Space-Based Lidar Winds. Tropospheric wind profiles are the number one unaccommodated Environmental Data Record (EDR) for weather forecasting. Doppler Wind Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) is the appropriate technology for a satellite instrument to measure global winds. The needed science (weather forecasting, simulation experiments, atmospheric models and in situ measurements, and benefits studies) and technologies (laser, optics, and scanning) for a space DWL mission are being steadily advanced by NASA, NOAA, industry, and universities. Concepts and preliminary designs are under development for airborne and space prototype missions, overseen by the Mission Definition Team. Noblis supports development of interagency requirements, instrument and mission design concepts, cost and benefit studies, technology roadmaps and planning activities. This new measurement technique will supply the most important weather forecasting data need that is not currently being supplied on a global scale.
SATPROD - Design Support System for Instrument-to-Product Configuration Management
Noblis created the Satellite Product Overview Display (SATPROD), a database of all of the NESDIS satellite products. This system is used by government management to determine the impact of on-orbit instrument failures, thus providing a tool for deciding when the launch of a new satellite is critical to keeping the flow of environmental data continuous.
SARSAT - Search and Rescue
Through the use of the Search and Rescue instrumentation on NOAA's environmental satellites, more than 17,000 individuals have been rescued from life-threatening situations worldwide; in 2004, 163 individuals have been rescued in the United States. Our support to NOAA on the ground system infrastructure, data-receiving antennas, and communications systems was vital to making this possible. Our commitment to the public interest is apparent in our support of this system employing government assets to save a life or to help avoid personal injury.
IJPS - Initial Joint Polar System
Teamwork among Noblis employees, government technical experts and management, other contractors, and international meteorological agencies is exemplified in the Initial Joint Polar System (IJPS) program created by NOAA and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) to share responsibility for environmental polar-orbiting satellite operations with two independent, but fully coordinated systems. NOAA will continue to orbit the afternoon POES series of satellites, while EUMETSAT will fly a new morning-orbiting MetOp satellite. These teams developed and implemented requirements for IJPS System, Command and Data Acquisition and Satellite Operation Control Center, Communications, Product Generation and Distribution, and Verification and Validation elements. As part of our teamwork, we established the first NOAA communications gateway with server capability at a foreign agency. During IJPS, the NOAA Satellite will continue to provide data from an afternoon (2:00 p.m.) orbit, while the MetOp satellite will take over for the morning (9:30 a.m.) orbit.
UARS
Noblis provided ground system designs and launch and early orbit support to the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) at GSFC.
Technology Support
Over the years, we have assisted NASA in managing various technology programs at GSFC and the Langley Research Center and have worked on individual technology activities for improved remote sensing data delivery and data analysis capabilities. Technology work in collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Ames Research Center led to development of autonomous science operations and spacecraft diagnostics tools using a set of model-based, artificial intelligence software. Noblis led the Flight Software effort to integrate these tools and related classification algorithms on-board the Earth Observing One (EO-1) spacecraft. See the EO-1 website for more information. Noblis' work on advanced sensor networks and detection/collection techniques embodied in the Autonomous Sciencecraft Experiment on EO-1 received the NASA Software of the Year award for 2005. Work within the GSFC Integrated Mission Autonomy Lab established and extended the viability of implementing sensor webs and virtual observatory approaches with architectural descriptions and operational concepts for a fully integrated sensor fleet involving a common set of middleware for space, ground, and unmanned mobile platforms. A demonstration developed by Noblis involving University of Maryland students is described in an article in Space News.
Research and Applications
For years, we have supported the NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR). STAR conducts scientific research on the use of satellite data for monitoring meteorological, climatological, terrestrial, and oceanographic environmental characteristics. Among our contributions was the pursuit of further knowledge regarding the prediction of climate change and variability. Quality climate data records are key to drawing reasonable conclusions about climate change. Noblis assisted STAR in developing and presenting a white paper to a Committee of the National Academy of Science, representing the scientific and user climate communities for the purpose of exchanging knowledge and soliciting advice from the scientific climate community on establishing a program for generating long-term climate data records. Our work resulted in NOAA beginning the creation of an operational infrastructure and an end-to-end process for creating, archiving, and distributing climate data records to the scientific community.
Business Operations and Planning
Business Continuity Planning (BCP). BCP provides for continuity of operations (COOP), disaster recovery, and business continuity plans for the satellite ground systems to ensure that critical systems can continue to support the needs of NESDIS and its satellite ground control, product development and distribution, data archiving, and the supporting operational functions that include software development and technology modernization. Teamwork was required to complete the requisite tasks, to provide the tools, and to train personnel on their use. Additionally, the complexity and comprehensiveness of COOPs and BCPs required the coordination of team members holding a number of technical specialties.
Information Technology Architecture. Noblis' support in formulating the NESDIS Information Technology (IT) Architecture achieved the highest standards of excellence. Noblis ensured that the NESDIS information technology was being procured and used consistently and without unnecessary duplication in support of higher objectives at NESDIS, NOAA, the Department of Commerce, and the Office of Management and Budget. Noblis linked every major system to organizational goals and strategies through an enterprise architecture model and developed migration plans from baseline to target systems.
Facility Relocation and Planning
NESDIS—NOAA Satellite Operations Facility. In 1999, NOAA and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) jointly agreed to construct a new facility designed to meet the NESDIS requirements. We provided support in the facilities and relocation planning for the uninterrupted 24x7 operations of five operational centers to a new 190,000 sq ft facility designated the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF), as well as telecommunications and infrastructure planning and support for grounding and lightning protection. All environmental satellite data until at least 2025 will be routed through NSOF.
NWS—National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Noblis assisted the NWS in the initial planning for relocation of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) from the World Weather Building in Camp Springs to a planned, new 265,000 sq ft building on the University of Maryland campus in College Park.
NESDIS—Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP). Noblis assisted NESDIS in selecting and equipping a backup site for Product Generation and Distribution. We surveyed and evaluated candidate sites, estimated lifecycle costs, and developed plans for the outfitting and equipping of the selected site.
Collaborations
Noblis' work in support of NASA and NOAA involves collaborations with numerous other federal government agencies, such as the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, the National Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Geo-Spatial Intelligence Agency, as well as numerous foreign government space and science agencies. Much of our space-based remote sensing work involves collaborative efforts with university peers and others from various laboratories and institutes across the United States.