Title of Presentation: The UAVSAR Instrument: Description and Test Plans

Primary (Corresponding) Author: Scott Hensley

Organization of Primary Author: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Co-Authors: Kevin Wheeler, Greg Sadowy, Cathleen Jones, Scott Shaffer, Howard Zebker, Tim Miller, Brandon Heavey, Ernie Chuang, Roger Chao, Ken Vines, Kouji Nishimoto, Jack Prater, Bruce Carrico, Neil Chamberlain, Joanne Shimada, Marc Simard, Bruce Chapman, Ron Muellerschoen, Gary Hamilton, David Robison, Greg Neumann, Dennis Flower and Robert Smith

Abstract: The UAVSAR instrument had its genesis in the ESTO Instrument Incubator Program and after 2.5 years of development has started to collect engineering and science data. The instrument has been designed to make robust repeat pass radar interferometric measurements at L-band in order to measure natural and anthropogenically induced deformation of the earth’s surface. By designing the radar to be housed in an external unpressurized pod it has the potential to be readily ported to other platforms although in initial testing the pod is being carried with the NASA Gulfstream III aircraft. The G-III has been modified for the pod and been equipped with Precision Autopilot capability developed by NASA Dryden Flight Research Center to fly the aircraft within a 10 m diameter tube of any specified trajectory necessary for repeat pass radar interferometric applications. To maintain the required pointing for repeat pass interferometric applications we have employed an actively scanned antenna that is steered based on INU measurement data. This talk will present a brief overview of the system and show some data from our initial flight tests.