The space station window observational research facility; a high altitude imaging laboratory

Journal Article · Fri Jan 22 00:00:00 EST 1999 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.57552· OSTI ID:21202512

Runco, Susan K ^[1]; Eppler, Dean B ^[2]; Scott, Karen P ^[3]

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1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Earth Science and Solar System Exploration Division, Code SN3, Houston, Texas, 77058 (United States)
2. Science Applications International Corporation, NASA, Johnson Space Center, Space Station Payloads, Code OZ, Houston, Texas, 77058 (United States)
3. The Aerospace Corporation, Independent Assessment Office, Johnson Space Center, Code NQ, Houston, Texas 77058 (United States)

Earth Science will be one of the major research areas to be conducted on the International Space Station. The facilities from which this research will be accomplished are currently being constructed and will be described in this paper. By April 1999, the International Space Station nadir viewing research window fabrication will be completed and ready for installation. The window will provide a 20 inch (51 cm) diameter clear aperture. The three fused silica panes, which make up the window are fabricated such that the total peak-to-valley wavefront error in transmission through the three panes over any six inch diameter aperture does not exceed {lambda}/7 where the reference wavelength is 632.8 nm. The window will have over 90% transmission between about 400 and 750, above 50% transmission between about 310 nm and 1375 nm and 40% transmission between 1386 nm and 2000 nm. The Window Operational Research Facility (WORF) is designed to accommodate payloads using this research window. The WORF will provide access to the International Space Station utilities such as data links, temperature cooling loops and power. Emphasis has been placed on the factors which will make this facility an optimum platform for conducting Earth science research.

• OSTI ID: 21202512
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 458, Issue 1; Conference: Space technology and applications international forum - 1999, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 31 Jan - 4 Feb 1999; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.57552; (c) 1999 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
ALTITUDE
APERTURES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
GEOPHYSICS
IMAGE PROCESSING
INFRARED SPECTRA
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
REMOTE SENSING
SILICA
VISIBLE SPECTRA