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HICO and RAIDS Experiment Payload - Remote Atmospheric and Ionospheric Detection System (RAIDS) (HREP-RAIDS)
05.23.12

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

The HICO and RAIDS Experiment Payload - Remote Atmospheric and Ionospheric Detection System (HREP-RAIDS) experiment provides atmospheric scientists with a complete description of the major constituents of the thermosphere and ionosphere. The thermosphere is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere where the International Space Station (ISS) orbits the Earth, and the ionosphere is the portion of the upper atmosphere that affects radio waves. RAIDS provides density, composition, temperature and electron density profiles at altitudes between 95 - 300 kilometers.

Principal Investigator

  • Scott Budzien, , Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia), United States

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

    Information Pending

    Payload Developer

    The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA, United States
    Johnson Space Center, United States Department of Defense Space Test Program, Houston, TX, United States

    Sponsoring Space Agency

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

    Sponsoring Organization:

    National Laboratory Office (NLO)

    ISS Expedition Duration:

    March 2009 - October 2013



    Expeditions Assigned

    19/20, 21/22, 23/24, 25/26, 27/28, 29/30, 31/32, 33/34, 35/36

    Previous ISS Missions

    HREP-RAIDS is a unique investigation that has not been performed on spacecraft before.

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    • The HICO and RAIDS Experiment Payload - Remote Atmospheric and Ionospheric Detection System (HREP-RAIDS) combines two experiment sensors into one payload.


    • HREP-RAIDS is an ultraviolet (UV) and visible remote sensing instrument that views the limb (edge) of the Earth to measure vertical composition and temperature of the atmosphere above 95 km.

    Description

    The Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) and Remote Atmospheric and Ionospheric Detection System (RAIDS) Experiment Payload (HREP) consists of two instruments. The HREP-RAIDS is an experiment designed to perform a comprehensive study of naturally occurring airglow emissions in the upper atmosphere. HREP-RAIDS observations are used to develop and test techniques for remote sensing of the neutral atmosphere and ionosphere on a global scale. HREP-RAIDS is an array of eight optical instruments covering the wavelength region 55 - 870 nanometers and measures the vertical structure of the atmosphere. The experiment scans or images the limb of the Earth to measure profiles of airglow from major ionospheric and neutral atmospheric species in the upper atmosphere. HREP-RAIDS measurements are used to determine the composition and temperature of the thermosphere and ionosphere. HREP-RAIDS tests new techniques for atmospheric remote sensing and looks for signs of global change.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    HREP-RAIDS tests new techniques for ionospheric and neutral atmospheric remote sensing and studies atmospheric temperature, composition, and chemistry.

    Earth Applications

    Data from this investigation improves knowledge of a poorly-studied region of Earth's atmosphere and leads to improved atmospheric models and better prediction of satellite drag and debris tracking.

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    HREP-RAIDS is mounted to the ISS exterior on JEM-EF at position number six. It requires power provided by the International Space Station (ISS), and uses the ISS for commanding and data downlink. All interaction is via the POIC and no crew interaction is planned other than installation and removal via extravehicular robotics (EVR).

    Operational Protocols

    HREP-RAIDS launches to the ISS as a part of the HTV-1 mission. EVR mounts HREP to the JEM-EF and removes it for disposal on a later HTV flight.

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    Results/More Information

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    Related Web Sites
  • Remote Atmospheric and Ionospheric Detection System

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    Publications

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    Ground Based Results Publications

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    ISS Patent Publications

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    Related Publications

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    Images

    imageUnlatched HREP-RAIDS configuration fully rotated (on-orbit the instrument is rotated 180 degrees). Image courtesy of the Naval Research Laboratory.


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    imageNASA Image: S129E009592 - View of the Hyperspectral Imager for Coastal Oceans (HICO) and Remote Atmospheric and Ionospheric Detection System (RAIDS) Experiment Payload (HREP) installed on the Japanese Experiment Module - Exposed Facility and the port side Solar Array Wings. Photo taken from a JEM Pressurized Module window.


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    Information provided by the investigation team to the ISS Program Scientist's Office.
    If updates are needed to the summary please contact JSC-ISS-Program-Science-Group. For other general questions regarding space station research and technology, please feel free to call our help line at 281-244-6187 or e-mail at JSC-ISS-Payloads-Helpline.
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