 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Improving Disaster Response With Responsive Space Disaster Monitoring
El Segundo CA (SPX) Oct 31, 2005 The best laid disaster plans can quickly become woefully inadequate, as Hurricane Katrina so destructively demonstrated. Despite advanced preparations for this hurricane, Katrina still knocked out almost all power and communications along the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines. Many of the aircraft normally used for damage assessment and monitoring were either destroyed or diverted to direct rescue. As a result, rescue and re-supply efforts were hampered by a lack of accurate information and coordination among the federal, state and municipal agencies. Responsive Space, which refers to a system of low-cost small satellites launched when needed on inexpensive expendable rockets, could enhance our response to what forecasters expect will be several decades of severe weather events. These launch vehicles and payloads would be built to inventory and stored for launch as needed. The combination of various small satellite payloads and low-cost, responsive launch vehicles (such as Microcosm's Sprite) could provide improved weather prediction, real-time monitoring of a stricken area, and nearly immediate restoration of communications services needed for relief efforts. Responsive Space disaster monitoring satellites could be launched within hours for a cost of approximately $20 million per mission (including the cost of the satellite, launch, and operations), as compared to delays of years and a cost $150 million to over $1 billion for current traditional missions. Typical Responsive Missions include a wind lidar satellite that could provide 3-dimensional wind measurements every 90 minutes for 9 hours per day over the entire Gulf of Mexico region for substantially improved longer-term weather predication, or a small communications satellite in a highly elliptical orbit providing 6 hours per day of mobile communications to rescue personnel. (This could be extended to 24 hours/day with three additional satellites.) To monitor ground conditions in a stricken area, a low-cost satellite could provide high-resolution resolution imaging every 90 minutes for 6 to 8 hours per day. These added capabilities would enable rescuers to locate people and problems in most immediate need, assess the changing situation, track supplies, and get help quickly where it is needed most. Microcosm's Sprite low-cost, responsive launch vehicle, which requires minimal launch infrastructure, would be an integral part of a Responsive Space disaster monitoring program. Sprite is capable of launching various small satellites weighing up to 810 lbs. into low earth orbit within 8 hours of a previously unidentified demand for $4.2 million. Dr. James Wertz, president of Microcosm, a firm specializing in advanced space mission engineering, is available to discuss the ramifications of implementing a Responsive Space disaster monitoring program. He is the author of leading text and reference books in space technology, a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, and a Fellow of both the British Interplanetary Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, as well as an Adjunct Professor of Astronautics at the University of Southern California. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Responsive Space SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters A world of storm and tempest When the Earth Quakes
ISRO Developing Ocean Bottom Warning Sensors
Bangalore, India (SPX) Jan 11, 2006Indian Space Research Organisation is developing ocean bottom sensors that will help warn tsunami strikes in advance, the Press Trust Of India reports. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
