UAVSAR conducted the second of a pair of observations (a week apart) over the Slumgullion landslide study site in Colorado and also acquired data in northern Arizona for a subsidence study (PI: Brian Conway of the State of Arizona). On this flight, high fidelity real-time SAR image formation was successfully demonstrated with the Onboard Processor developed under an ESTO AIST task.
The DFRC G-III resumed flying L-band flights last week and imaged the Sacramento Delta Levee study area (PI: Jones) and the Slumgullion landslide study site in Colorado (PI: Fielding). This week, UAVSAR is wrapping up a 3-day deployment to New Orleans for the Gulf Coast subsidence monitoring study (PI: Ron Blom and Cathleen Jones). Cathleen Jones and Ron Blom utilized UAVSAR repeat-pass data to capture the precursor surface movement of a major sinkhole in Louisiana (the Bayou Corne sinkhole) that was discovered at least one month prior to the actual sinkhole formation.
The team successfully completed two Mexico flights last week for the solid earth deformation study. During the month of July, 171 PolSAR and 37 RPI L-band science products were released. The team is in the process of putting a plan together and schedule for RPI browse and SLC product delivery. New calibration files were also generated for the last L-band (and P-band) engineering flights; the processor calibration algorithm was updated to increase calibration-phase accuracy.
On July 9, the L-band radar was removed from AV-1 without accomplishing the engineering flight because HS-3 is waiting to use the aircraft. Obviously this was a very disappointing development as the radar was successfully integrated to the aircraft and ready to fly two weeks ago. The Combined Systems Test on June 25 was terminated due to an aircraft engine fault. Dryden and Northrop Grumman teams spent a week troubleshooting the fault condition and determined the probable cause to be the Vehicle Test Computer on the ground and not the aircraft engine or computer.
The antenna frame modification was completed and fit checked to verify that the bath tub radome does not interfere with the radar antenna. During weight and balance of the aircraft on June 6, it was determined that the aircraft cannot be balanced with both LVIS and UAVSAR on the aircraft. Dryden's current plan is to remove UAVSAR from the aircraft, get LVIS ready for a range flight next week, and then reinstall UAVSAR on the aircraft with LVIS offloaded. UAVSAR will then conduct a range flight on or around June 27, followed by the NGC-sponsored Canada flight in early July.
The JPL UAVSAR team briefed NASA's ESD Research and Analysis Program Director, Dr. Jack Kaye, on significant science results based on UAVSAR data. These recent science results covered four disciplines: solid earth deformation, terrestrial hydrology, terrestrial ecology, and levee health. They demonstrated UAVSAR's utility in algorithm validation and calibration for the SMAP mission, mission design trades for the DESDynI mission, and long term monitoring of levee health as well as identifying levee weakness during a flood.
UAVSAR's South America deployment and a polarimetric image of the Galeras volcano in Colombia were featured in NASA Earth Observatory's image of the day
The Dryden G-III is back in service and there are four L-band flights planned for this week, one over the Slumgullion landslide area in Colorado and the other three over the Santa Barbara and Los Angeles Basin area of the San Andreas Fault. The Weather forecast looks good for this week, with no predicted thunderstorms; this should minimize the potential of atmospheric effect distorting small surface deformation signatures in the Repeat Pass Interferometric data products.
UAVSAR completed three L-band flights, two of which were part of the San Andreas Fault monitoring series (Santa Rosa area, area south of Monterey Bay, and Santa Barbara), and the third for Slumgullion landslide monitoring during the snowmelt season. This week the aircraft is out of commission for a few days to address an engine issue. The radar team is also conducting RF ground testing to characterize the RF emission of the radar for the purpose of submitting the NTIA stage 4 spectrum license application (permanent radio frequency transmission license).
