GPS RADIOSONDE: MIGHTY MIDGET OF THE MODERN RANGE

摘要

Wallops Flight Facility is NASA's principal site for management and implementation of suborbital research programs. Recently, WFF resumed its successful satellite-launching history without sacrificing its culture of being low-cost and responsive. Part of what made this possible is the GPS radiosonde. During recent successful Minotaur I launches, this tiny instrument provided upper-air observations that were used in six categories of analysis necessary for such launches: toxics, blast, winds aloft, debris, weather and forecasting, and post-flight. In addition, the GPS radiosonde has reduced costs associated with Wind Weighting at Wallops, and is used in numerous range research projects.