NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

OpNom: HDEV

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

Experiment Overview


Brief Summary

The High Definition Earth Viewing (HDEV) payload incorporates four commercially available high definition (HD) cameras to provide high definition views of the Earth. The HDEV uses four different camera types which have shown potential in early ground based testing and studies to best survive the radiation and space environment. In addition to providing Earth viewing images, the payload also demonstrates the longevity of these cameras in the space environment, in order to provide data and reduce risk in the selection of cameras that could be considered for future use on NASA spacecraft.

Principal Investigator(s)

Susan Runco, M.S., Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United States

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

Carlos Fontanot, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United States

Developer(s)
Information Pending

Sponsoring Space Agency

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Sponsoring Organization

Technology Demonstration Office (TDO)

Research Benefits

Information Pending

ISS Expedition Duration:

September 2013 - March 2015

Expeditions Assigned

37/38,39/40,41/42

Previous ISS Missions

Information Pending

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Experiment Description

Research Overview

• The High Definition Earth Viewing (HDEV) investigation places four different commercial high definition cameras external to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Columbus External Facility.

• These cameras assess camera quality while taking Earth imagery.

• These cameras assess the hardware’s ability to survive and function in the extreme thermal and radioactive environment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

• Educational outreach has been an important component of the HDEV project through the entire projects life cycle.  NASA HUNCH program students fabricated some of the HDEV flight components, and most of the HDEV operation will be performed by intern students. 

Description

The High Definition Earth Viewing HDEV primary objective is to validate the space-based performance of the cameras in a variety of operating modes to exercise and demonstrate the features and longevity of the COTS equipment for future ISS Program usage. This payload is an external earth viewing multiple camera system using a set of Commercial-of-the-shelf (COTS) cameras. The HDEV integrated assembly is composed of a camera system of four COTS cameras, integrated Command and Data Handling (C&DH) avionics (ethernet), and a power data distribution box that allows the integration of the payload's components interface to the ISS Columbus module.

The HDEV visible cameras are a fixed payload camera system that requires no zoom, no pan or tilt mechanisms. The four fixed cameras are targeted for imagery of the Earth’s surface and its terminators as seen from the ISS (i.e., one camera forward pointed into the station’s velocity vector, two cameras aft (wake), and the other one camera pointing nadir).  The video imagery is encoded into an Ethernet compatible format for transmit to the ground and further distribution.  In this format, the video can be viewed from any computer connected to the internet.

The HDEV does not record video on board the ISS, all video is transmitted to the ground real time, any desired recording of the video will occur as ground operations.  The COTS cameras, COTS encoder and other electronics are enclosed in a pressurized box to provide a level of protection to the electronics from the space environment.  The Enclosure contains dry nitrogen at Atmospheric pressure.

The NASA High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) program participated in the development of the HDEV.  The HDEV project partnered with the HUNCH program to build several structural and support components of the HDEV flight system.

HDEV Design for Operations:   The HDEV will operate one camera at a time.  The HDEV is designed so that when the system is initially powered on, after a 1-2 minute warm up period, the Cameras will be turned on one at a time in a repeating cycle.  The Forward looking camera is powered first, followed by the Nadir and each aft looking camera, such that the HDEV video will “follow” a location on the earth as the ISS passes overhead.  This auto-cycle mode of the HDEV does not require any input from ground operators, so the HDEV can be operated any time that the ISS power and data resources are available, without requiring a ground controller present to operate the payload.  The only command required, is the initial “power on” command, which is performed by ESA’s Columbus Control Center as schedule by ISS Payload Operations.

Alternately as desired by ground controllers, the HDEV video can be commanded.  Ground operators have the choice to change the cycle of the images noted in the auto-cycle mode (either changing which cameras that are powered on, or changing the length of time they are powered on), or, if desired, ground controllers can command a single camera to remain powered on and no auto-cycle to take place. 

The HDEV is operated from a standard ISS TReK workstation with HDEV specific Software installed.

Operations:  Camera/system longevity performance--Initially when installed on orbit, the cameras will be turned on and video recorded (on ground) to establish initial camera image quality.  Periodically, or during HDEV operations in support of Public Relations events, the camera video images will be recorded and compared to previous video.  The video image analysis over time will document how well each of the camera systems hold up in the space environment.

Public Relations:  The HDEV video will be available to the public over the internet, at the ISS Imagery web site.  The HDEV imagery will be displayed next to the ISS location map (showing where the ISS is located over the earth as the video is viewed.)  

The HDEV can be scheduled to be operated in support of special events, on request.  Not all requests can be accommodated, but HD video of the earth can be provided as resources permit.

To request the HDEV to be operated at a time you would like to have the video available to support your activites (public event, educational activity, etc.), please contact either of the Principle investigators of the Project Managers noted on this page or on the ISS Imagery Website.

Continued Educational Outreach:   The majority of HDEV operations will be performed by intern students through the life of the project.

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Applications

Space Applications

This investigation supports future space mission design and development with regard to the choice of tested and proven HD video camera hardware.

Earth Applications

This investigation is capable of supporting any Earth observation activity or request that desires HD video broad areas or panoramic views of the Earth.

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Operations

Operational Requirements

The camera system is installed externally on the CEPA. Power and periodic video downlink following power on is required.

Operational Protocols

Individual cameras are powered on and off as required to attain video data.

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Results/More Information

Information Pending

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Related Websites

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Imagery

HDEV Completed Flight Assembly

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HDEV Top (Image as will be seen from ISS Nadir, slightly Starboard)

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HDEV Nadir Camera Port (Image as will be seen from ISS Port)

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HDEV Forward, Forward Camera Port (Imaged as will be seen from ISS Forward/Ram)

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HDEV Aft, Aft Camera Ports (Image as will be seen from ISS Aft)

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HDEV Starboard (Image as will be seen from ISS Starboard)

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HDEV Internal Electronics (image View: ISS Forward/Ram to left)

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HUNCH program fabricated brackets in the HDEV Fight Assembly

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HUNCH fabricated brackets in the HDEV Flight Assembly

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HUNCH Fabricated Isolator on the Flight Assembly.  Isolating the HDEV electronics mechanically and thermally from ISS Mounted CEPA.
 

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HDEV System Design for Operations

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