| October, 2002: |
EO-1 performs second inclination burn sequence to stay within one minute behind Landsat-7 in World Reference System polar orbit. About 2 years more fuel remains before orbit lowering will have to commence to stay within the NASA guideline of uncontrolled re-entry within 25 years.
|
| September, 2002: |
EO-1 patches flight software on WARP Mongoose in first step of implementing an on-board cloud detection algorithm. Using 6 of Hyperion's 220 spectral bands, the on-board computers should be able to distinguish clouds from ice from smoke and report the result to the ground for validation. The final demonstration of cloud detection capability is scheduled for early December 2002.
|
| August, 2002: |
EO-1 takes 5,000th scene...the baseline mission called for 1000 scenes, but over 2000 had been taken by the end of the baseline mission in December 2001. Another 3000 scenes have been taken during the extended mission partnership between the USGS and NASA commencing Jan 2002.
|
| June, 2002: |
Special EO-1 Issue from the IEEE for the International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) features articles from the EO-1 Science Validation Team effort.
EO-1 data can be ordered from the USGS Earth Explorer website http://eo1.usgs.gov/dataproducts/searchandorder.asp
|
| May, 2002: |
Hyperion Level 1 products available from USGS/EDC using GSFC developed algorithm.
EO-1 continuous improvement video presented to NASA-wide competition committee and is selected as one of five finalists for review by the new NASA Administrator. The primary measure of effectiveness is cost per scene (down to less than $1000 per).
EO-1 imagery from the La Plata Maryland F4 tornado scar shown on nightly news programs in Baltimore and Washington D.C.
Data from 2-path-away scenes accepted for use by USGS clients. This capability allows for up to 5 revisits to one location every 16 day orbital cycle (one scene pointing from nadir, one pointing from each adjacent path, and one pointing from each 2nd path away).
|
| April, 2002: |
EO-1 takes 23 scenes in one day. The mission was scoped for maximum 8 scenes per day, but with streamlined image sequences, increased reliability of ground stations, and the capability to repoint to a secondary scene within 5 minutes of a primary, an average of 15-17 images per day is becoming more routine for EO-1.
|
| March, 2002: |
USGS Ground Station declared operational for EO-1 X-band passes.
|
| February, 2002: |
USGS/EROS Data Center (EDC) takes over scheduling of EO-1 images.
|
| January, 2002: |
NASA and USGS sign Memorandum of Understanding regarding EO-1 extended mission operations. The MOU defines the roles and responsibilities of both agencies in carrying out the extended mission. NASA and USGS announce the existence of the extended EO-1 mission.
USGS/EDC takes over level 0 and ALI level 1 data processing at the Sioux Falls SD site.
|
| December, 2001: |
EO-1 conducts pulse plasma thruster (PPT) experiment on-orbit. This activity validates the final technology for EO-1's baseline mission.
EO-1 completes baseline mission. All technologies have been demonstrated. All Science Validation activities aboard the spacecraft are now completed. The Science Validation Team will continue to work on the data gathered in the baseline mission. Some scientists will sign-up to order additional data from USGS/EDC to supplement their study areas.
|
| November, 2001: |
A users workshop on ALI and Hyperion data was opened to the public. A large audience of potential imagery users attended from all over government, academia, and private industry.
|
| October, 2001: |
EO-1 performs and inclination burn to stay within 1 minute following Landsat-7 in orbit.
EO-1 demonstrates the ability to deliver data to users within 4 hours of receipt on the ground. Many thanks to the EOSDIS/EDOS crew for their support in this demonstration.
EO-1 hosts an ALI technology forum concentrating on Landsat Data Continuity Mission interchange.
|
| September, 2001: |
EO-1 images world trade centers the day after 9/11 and delivers data within 12 hours of image time.
|
| August, 2001: |
Enhanced Formation Flying algorithms from both GSFC and JPL are validated on-orbit.
EO-1 Technology Forum convened to present preliminary validation results from new technologies.
|
| July, 2001: |
The EO-1 Data Policy has been posted on the Science page.
EO-1 images the planets and stars. Calibration imagery of the moon in various phases, Jupiter, Saturn, the Pleiades, and Vega are made using EO-1 advanced maneuver capability to point and shoot at anything in the universe. Images of other stars and comets are planned in the future.
|
| May 24, 2001: |
The EO-1 Data Policy has been posted on the Science page.
EO-1 successfully performed its first autonomous formation flying maneuver on May 17th utilizing the GSFC developed Folta/Quinn formation flying algorithm. The maneuver planned and executed on board the spacecraft was performed to maintain a one minute separation and allow both missions to image the same ground for cross comparison purposes. An excellent article in "Aviation Week & Space Technology" has been published on this NASA first. After a few more burns using the GSFC algorithm the EFF algorithm will then be switched to utilize a formation flying algorithm developed by JPL (June/July 2001 timeframe).
EO-1 continues to operate nominally and collect images, averaging around five to six per day in support of the Science Validation Team. Validation of the other technologies continues to proceed nominally. An EO-1 Technology Validation and Infusion Workshop is tentatively scheduled for August 15-16, 2001 (note that this is a new date) in the Washington, D.C. area. More details will follow in the upcoming weeks.
|
| May 2001: |
EO-1 continues to function nominally. On April 23, 2001, EO-1 took its 1,000th data collection event (image). During late March and April, some special calibration scenes of deep space targets (Jupiter, Venus, Pleades) were collected to help assess spectral and spatial performance of the instruments. At this time, calibration and performance scenes for all three instruments have been fully collected. Preliminary results of the analyses on the scenes presented at the EO-1 Instrument and Science Validation Team meeting in Tuscon, Arizona on May 1-2, 2001, indicate that all three instruments are performing as specified.
The combined EO-1 Instrument and Science Validation Team meeting in Tuscon, Arizona was very successful in presenting the instrument calibration results to date and in the transition of detailed information regarding image quality and image artifacts to the SVT members before they fully engage in analyzing their collected scenes. Some preliminary results from the SVT and from the successful Argentina and Austrailian field compaigns were also presented at the meeting.
The emphasis for the next few months will be on collecting the necessary validation scenes for the Science Validation Team (SVT) (80 plus members) which is chartered with ensuring that EO-1 capabilities can demonstrate the same or better science results as Landsat-7. Tasking for EO-1 during this busy North American growing season is almost fully occupied attempting to satisfy the SVT requests.
The prime mission of supporting technology and science validation are fully occupying the EO-1 team at this time. However, there continues to be detailed discussions concerning EO-1 data policy and outside tasking. It is anticipated that these issues will be resolved in the upcoming weeks and publicized via this web site.
|
| March 2001: |
EO-1 continues to perform nominally collecting on average 50 calibration (lunar, solar, earth limb scans) and ground images weekly. The field campaigns in Australia and Argentina are winding down as are the ground data collections required for instrument performance. At this time, the majority of scene requests are being performed for the benefit of Science Validation Team selected from the NASA Research Announcement last year. Their goal will be to fully validate EO-1 with paired scenes from Landsat to determine if the ALI, Hyperion and LAC can meet future science research and application objectives.
A significant number of requests have been coming to the EO-1 Mission
Technologist and Mission Scientist for tasking of EO-1 (imaging) or for
acquiring image data already collected EO-1. The EO-1 project will, in the next two to three weeks, be discussing with NASA Headquarters how this may be accomplished and publishing on this website a process and the criteria for soliciting and selecting requests. Whether these requests can be accommodated in the current 11 month EO-1 mission lifetime or will need to be extended beyond that time frame is still a question to be answered. The EO-1 project wishes to thank the many requesters for their patience and promise more solid answers by the end of March.
|
| 02/05/01: |
EO-1 continues to operate nominally and has taken over 350 images (included calibrations) since launch. The X-band downlink problems experienced in December and early January were all traced to either misconfiguration or equipment problems at the ground stations. Since mid January we have achieved almost perfect downlink results demonstrating that the X-band Phased Array Antenna is operating as specified. Also, the software patch to bypass the Hyperion cryocooler sensor failure has been uploaded to the spacecraft and is working well. This patch will allow the SWIR on Hyperion to operate at a greater duty cycle (80% vs 50% on time).
We continue in February to support the Argentina and Australian field
campaigns and complete collection of key sites needed to fully characterize the performance of the three imaging instruments. The Enhanced Formation Flying Software has been working well planning maneuvers to maintain EO-1 within the 1 minute long track and 3 km cross track envelope. At this point we are just monitoring these on-board generated flight navigation "burns" but will begin in later February to allow the on-board system to plan and execute the "burns" with ground approval.
|
| 01/29/01: |
EO-1 has taken approximately 300 images from its three instruments since launch on Nov 21st. Previously reported problems with X-band down-links were traced primarily to problems with ground station configuration or ground station equipment problems. These problems have been resolved for the most part, and we have been obtaining excellent X-band downlinks from the X-band phased array antenna since the early part of January.
Currently, EO-1 is supporting campaigns in Argentina and Australia to
fully calibrate the ALI, AC and Hyperion instruments. As part of this
campaign, flights of EO-1 with the AVIRIS instrument are underway in Argentina. Field teams in both Argentina and Australia have been
deployed to special sites to support ground truth of the sites and
atmospheric measurement during the times EO-1 overpasses. Currently, about 75 percent of those scenes required to complete instrument characterization have been collected.
Overall, the EO-1 spacecraft and its instruments have been performing
nominally with one exception. A feedback sensor on the Hyperion
cryo-cooler failed on Jan 10th. The TRW team that built the instrument
have instituted a contingency plan which allows the cryo-ccoler to operate, but with more manual operations. This has limited the on time of the cooler to about one half the scenes over the last three weeks from about a 80% percent on-time earlier in the month. Only the Hyperion SWIR scenes have been effected (only when the cryo-cooler is on is SWIR data valid). A on-board software patch to bypass the sensor is being tested this week which should allow us to return to the greater on-time duty cycle.
|
| 01/04/01: |
Many members of the EO-1 Technology and Science Team have been receiving inquiries about instrument specifications, performance and availability of imagery. A forum will be held on January 11, 2001 in Reston, Virginia at USGS which should answer most or all of these inquiries. Visit our EO-1 Technology Transfer and Infusion page for more details. Please contact the listed web sites to register.
The EO-1 Observatory continues to operate nominally. EO-1 is in formation with Landsat 7 and is currently taking about 6 to 8 concurrent images a day from its three instruments. All three instruments are performing nominally. Some problems still exist in obtaining completely trouble free X-band downlinks of the image data. Although there has been no impact to imaging operations (a current work-around is to schedule additional X-band contacts), a Tiger Team has been formed to better understand these problems. Instrument characterization continues on schedule with the full transition to the Science Validation Team still scheduled for the end of January. Overall, the imaging and spacecraft technologies are operating as planned and EO-1 is delivering excellent technology results.
|
| 12/11-21/00: |
EO-1 continues to perform nominally. On Friday 12/15, the last two Delta V burns were performed to achieve formation flying with Landsat 7. Over the last week or so we had imaged about 4 to 5 scenes per day. The primary objective in taking these initial images was for calibration and performance measurement of the 3 imaging instruments. As of December 21st, about 75 images have been collected with at least one image from each continent. Validation of the other technologies (Carbon Carbon Radiator, XPAA, LFSA) is ongoing and all are technologies are performing nominally.
Over the holiday period (Dec 23-Jan 2), EO-1 will continue to take about 4 to 5 images per day, again with emphasis on ground sites which can greatly aid in determining the performance of the 3 instruments with respect to Landsat 7. Additionally, next year we will begin the initial testing of the Enhanced Formation Flying on-board navigation software which will eventually provide for autonomous formation flying with Landsat 7.
The EO-1 team wishes to thank all its readers for their interest in this mission and wishes everyone a very happy and safe holiday season. The next status message will come after the New Year holiday.
|
| 12/8/00: |
The EO-1 Spacecraft and Instrument continue to perform nominally this week. Over the last week, we have taken about 17 images over 6 continents using concurrent imaging from all three instruments. Downlinks via the X-band communication system have been successful in downlinking all images to the ground stations. However, there have been a significant number of passes with poor quality. During this week, the Communication Team performed a number of ground station and spacecraft tests to better characterize the X-band downlinks. These activities should increase downlink success rate significantly next week.
This week, the Attitude Control Subsystem team continued to perform tests to better characterize spacecraft attitude knowledge and improve spacecraft stability and pointing performance during imaging. Also, on Tuesday and Thursday respectively, we performed the first solar calibrations for the Hyperion and LEISA Atmospheric Corrector. This data will be very useful in calibrating the spectral resolution of earth images for these two instruments.
Today, we are performing the full turn on of the Hyperion Cryocooler which will cool the Hyperion focal plan to the correct operating temperature to allow for Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) imaging to commence starting tonight. Up to this point only the more visible portion of the spectrum has been valid for images from Hyperion. On Saturday and Sunday we will be performing two Delta V burns which will bring us by Tuesday in full formation flying with Landsat 7. Also this week, we turned on the Pulse Plasma Thruster briefly to verify it survived the launch stress. It will be fully tested in October 2001 after the primary mission is complete.
Starting next week, we will gradually be increasing imaging to at least 4 scenes per day as we progress into more nominal operations.
A press release with first images from EO-1 is scheduled for Dec 18th or 19th. See the NASA homepage for more details.
|
| 12/1/00: |
Over the last three days we have been very busy.
On Monday afternoon we took our first test Hyperion image which
is being analyzed by the Hyperion team. On Tuesday we performed
a major delta v burn to continue our approach to formation flying
with Landsat 7. On Wednesday we performed a checkout of the Hyperion
cryo-cooler which functioned nominally. Thursday was again devoted
to another delta v maneuver while today is dedicated to taking
the first two engineering scenes which involve simultaneous imaging
of all three instruments. We expect to receive tape data with
these two scenes by Monday, Dec 4. The rest of this weekend we
will be similarly taking test engineering images from all three
instruments and relaying them to the ground stations via X-band
playbacks from the WARP. Additionally, the LFSA was deployed successfully
on Wednesday.
|
| 11/27/00: |
A lot of activity occurred over the last two
days. On Saturday the
Advanced Land Imager was activated and we took the first engineering
images which have been downlinked to the ground for analysis.
On Sunday, EO-1 first major inclination delta v burn took place
which will begin the move towards formation flying with Landsat
7. On Sunday evening the Atmospheric
Corrector was turned on and a engineering image was taken
and downlinked to the ground. All indications are that both engineering
images show the instruments working nominally. Today, we are in
the process of activating the Hyperion
instrument and will be taking an engineering test image later
this evening.
|
| 11/25/00: |
EO-1 successfully completed its first delta v
calibration burn yesterday and activated two of its major technologies.
The Wideband
Advanced Recorder Processor used to record, store and provide
high rate downlink of the EO-1 instrument data was successfully
brought on line and tested with the other major communication
technology the X-band
Phased Array Antenna. Yesterday morning the Enhanced
Formation Flying software was initiated and began running
on the S/C processor successfully. Once we achieve initial formation
flying with Landsat 7 (around Dec 15) it will be used to maintain
the orbits of EO-1 with respect to Landsat autonomously. Today
(11/25) we will be activating the Advanced Land Imager and taking
initial engineering test images.
|
| 11/24/00: |
EO-1 is now pointing its instruments at the Earth
and successfully completed yesterday a critical test of its safehold
mode logic which is used to safe the spacecraft in case of problems
onboard or errant operations or commands. We are testing the ability
of the spacecraft to slew or maneuver in all three axis (roll,
pitch and yaw). This should be completed by early evening. This
evening we will put the Enhanced Formation Flying (EFF) software
in monitor mode to see if it is properly calculating navigation
information. Overtime, confidence in the EFF software will lead
to EO-1 performing autonomous navigation maneuvers to maintain
its formation flying with Landsat 7 tomorrow, EO-1 will test its
first propulsion system burn (a sec test burn) in preparation
for manuevers over the next 2 weeks to get into initial formaiton
flying with Landsat 7.
|
| 11/22/00: |
The Delta II Launch
occurred Nov. 21st at 1:24:25 p.m.. EST and brought EO-1 into orbit
within 400 to 600m of predictions.
EO-1 separated from the Boeing Dual Payload Attached Fairing one
hour after launch and the solar array deployed within three minutes
of separation. Despinning of the spacecraft (expected due to off
center, center of mass) occurred within one hour of separation and
we were in sun acquisition mode approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
after launch with our Solar Array tracking the sun. We are getting
expected power from array and all subsystems are functioning nominally.
In the early evening the EO-1 Star Tracker, which is needed to allow
EO-1 to point the imaging instruments toward targets on the earth
was activated and functioned flawlessly acquiring its guide stars.
The GPS subsystem which will be used for navigation and support
the formation flying with Landsat was also activated and quickly
locked onto the constellation and is providing time and navigation
information. This navigation information will be used after earth
pointing mode is achieved later tomorrow.
Overall all major objectives were achieved on schedule. Later tonight
some additional higher data rate testing with TDRS will be conducted
as well as checking of the Hyperion cover (to make sure it is closed).
Tomorrow, 11/22 a Safe Hold Mode test will be conducted and the
spacecraft will then be put into earth pointing mode (early evening)
which it will stay for most of the mission.
Ground station support from the TDRS, Norway, McMurdo Alaska and
Wallops ground stations have been superb and throughout the day
and evening.
|
| 11/21/00: |
(3:30 p.m. EST) EO-1
was successfully launched today, Tuesday, November 21st at 1:24
p.m. EST. Solar Array was also successfully deployed and everything
is running nominally.
(8:30 a.m. EST) Launch Readiness Review was successful yesterday.
Preparation continues for launch today, Tuesday, November 21st at
1:24 p.m. EST.
|
| 11/20/00: |
Preparation continues
for launch tomorrow, Tuesday, November 21st at 1:24 p.m. EST. Press
Conference on NASA TV at 2:00 p.m. EST.
|
| 11/19/00: |
RIFCA Review completed
and approved. First launch attempt is scheduled for Tuesday, November
21, 2000 at 10:24 a.m. PST -- (1:24 p.m. EST). EO-1 powerup for
the Spacecraft is schedule for Monday evening, November 20, 2000
at (10:00 p.m. EST). Launch vehicle fueling is underway this morning.
|
| 11/18/00: |
Review of RIFCA paperwork
continues. Therefore, launch is scheduled for no earlier than Tuesday,
November 21, 2000 at 10:24 a.m. PST (1:24 p.m. EST).
|
| 11/17/00: |
EO-1Post fairing aliveness
test was run successfully last night, however final closeout issues
with the Delta II Launch Vehicle has postponed fueling and moved
the launch one day to no earlier than Monday, November 20 at 10:24
a.m. PST (1:24 p.m. EST).
|
| 11/16/00: |
Reinstallation of the
fairing and fairing closeouts should be completed by late afternoon.
The EO-1 Post-Fairing Aliveness Test should commence at 7:00 p.m.
EST. First attempt for launch is holding for Sunday, November 19th
at 1:24 p.m. EST.
|
| 11/15/00: |
Due to a gasket fitting
problem between the fairing and first stage on the launch vehicle,
the Post-Fairing Aliveness Test was postponed until late afternoon
11/16 at the earliest. Therefore, the launch is delayed to Sunday,
November 19th.
|
| 11/14/00: |
A Post-Fairing EO-1 Aliveness
Test is scheduled for today at 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. EST along with the
Flight Readiness Review. Pending success of this last aliveness
test, all systems should be "GO" for launch on Saturday, November
18th.
|
| 11/13/00: |
Fairing installation
is scheduled for today.
|
| 11/12/00: |
Day off for Boeing, EO-1,
and SAC-C.
|
| 11/10-11/00: |
All final instrument
inspections were completed as well as final Red Tag Items were removed
in preparation for Launch Vehicle Fairing Installation on Monday,
November 13th.
|
| 11/09/00: |
Successfully completed
last Pre-Launch Simulation Rehearsal. Continuing on with Launch
Vehicle Stray Voltage Test.
|
| 11/08/00: |
Final EO-1 Functional
Test conducted successfully. This evening the Spacecraft will again
be powered on at 11:00 p.m. and the last Pre-Launch Simulation Rehearsal
will take place. This test will conclude with the simulated launch
at 1:24 EST on Thursday. Additional testing will follow the Pre-launch
Sim on Thurday afternoon.
|
| 11/07/00: |
EO-1 Functional Test commenced at
11:55 p.m. and will run through noon EST on Wednesday.
|
| 11/06/00: |
Final battery charging completed
on EO-1; continued to checkout all required Ground Support equipment
in preparation for Tuesday evening's final EO-1 Functional Test.
|
| 11/05/00: |
EO-1 and SAC-C were transported from
the Astrotech facility and integrated onto the Delta launch vehicle.
Final mechanical and electrical integration underway in preparation
for the Functional Test starting on Tuesday, 11/7/00.
|
| 11/03/00: |
NASA News Media Briefing on EO-1/SAC-C
mission. The briefing will be carried live on NASA TV, Channel 8,
at 11:00 a.m. EST. It will be replayed again at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00
p.m. EST.
|
| 11/02/00: |
EO-1 and SAC-C (currently at Vandenberg
Air Force Base) were integrated onto Boeing's dual payload adaptor
assembly.
|
