Incredible shrinking weather satellites

摘要

Some are thoroughly convinced that constellations of cubesats could gather the imagery and data meteorologists require for weather forecasting. Others see greater promise in satellites weighing 150 to 200 kilograms. There's little doubt, though, that as electronics components continue to shrink, weather satellites will become smaller. "Everyone sees the writing on the wall," said Brandywine Photonics President John Fisher. Already, cubesats have proven adept at monitoring atmospheric temperature and moisture by noting variation in signals traveling from GPS and other navigation satellites. Other weather instruments, though, may be better suited to satellites weighing as much as 180 kilograms that fit on Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) rings or 320 kilograms for an ESPA Grande. Originally developed to carry secondary payloads on Pentagon-funded Atlas 5 and Delta 4 launches, ESPA rings have become a standard for accommodating small satellites on government and commercial launches of EELV-class rockets, namely United Launch Alliance's vehicles and SpaceX's Falcon 9.