The A-Train: NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) Satellites and Other Earth Observation Satellites

摘要

The A-Train consists of United States satellites and international earth satellites (Aqua, CloudSat, CALIPSO, PARASOL, Aura, and OCO) that will fly together to enable coincidental science observations. The satellites will be in sun-synchronous orbits with equator crossings near the Mean Local Time (MLT) of the "lead" satellite, Aqua (around 1:30 p.m.). Collectively, they are known as the Afternoon Constellation, thus, the name, "A- (short for afternoon) Train". The mission operations for each satellite are managed by different organizations and controlled from different locations. To meet this challenge, NASA Goddard's Earth Science Mission Operations (ESMO) Project has formed a constellation Mission Operations Working Group (MOWG) to address how the member missions will coordinate with each other to ensure safe operations of the constellation and each individual satellite. This paper discusses the progress of the work to coordinate the missions, with the goal of making constellation operations safe while enabling coincidental observations.