Space Station and Space Shuttle Studies of Ocean Dynamics and Coastal Resources

摘要

Based on our experience with the space shuttle, we plan to use the U.S. aLaboratory Window Observational Research Facility (WORF) of the International Space Station (ISS) to study ocean dynamics and resources using high resolution color cameras, such as the NASA modified Hasselblad 500 EL/M camera with a 250 mm lens, and spectrometers. A major advantage will be the ability of ISS astronauts to first visually identify ocean features and then study them with high resolution cameras adjusted for optimum performance and over longer time periods. Our previous investigations have demonstrated that space shuttle photography has widespread applications to oceanographic and coastal studies, i.e., space shuttle photographs can be used not only for qualitative observations but also for quantitative measurements (TAble 2). With ONR and NASA support, we are also developing an ocean internal wave data base and an archive of recent space shuttle imagery.