| Date: | 2005-09-23 00:02:00 | |
| Sender: | Frank Lemoine <flemoine@bowie.gsfc.nasa.gov> | |
| Subject: | [SLR-Mail] No. 1383: Tracking for GFO-1 | |
| Author: | Frank Lemoine | |
| Content: | ******************************************************************************** SLR Electronic Mail 2005-09-23 00:02:00 UTC Message No. 1383 ******************************************************************************** Author: Frank Lemoine Subject: Tracking for GFO-1 Subject: Tracking for GFO-1 and other altimeter satellites Subject: Tracking for GFO-1 and other altimeter satellites as Hurricane Rita approaches Texas. Dear Colleagues, As you are aware Hurricane Rita is rapidly approaching the coast of Texas, and appears to be one of the most powerful hurricanes on record. One of the tools used to monitor the progress of the hurricane, and predict its potential impact is near-real time altimetry from the suite of altimeter satellites that that orbit the Earth, including Topex/Poseidon (NASA/CNES), GFO-1 (US Navy/NOAA/NASA), Envisat (ESA), and Jason-1 (CNES/NASA). These data are used by NOAA in their predictions of the hurricane´s progress and impact. We therefore request that over the next 48 hours (through late Saturday UT time), that the SLR stations make a special effort to track the altimeter satellites, GFO-1, Topex/Poseidon, and Envisat. Jason-1 is currently in safehold and is not returning data. We ask that you pay particular attention to GFO-1 and track this satellite as intensively as possible over the next 48 hours, since this spacecraft relies solely on the tracking by SLR. Under normal operations we deliver operational orbits daily for GFO-1. However, through Saturday, when Hurricane Rita is expected to make landfall, we will deliver operational orbits twice daily (morning and evening) to NOAA. As a result, the SLR predicts for GFO-1 will by default be sent out twice daily through Saturday. We appreciate any special efforts you can make on specifically tracking GFO-1 and the other altimeter satellites (Topex/Poseidon & Envisat) over the next 48 hours. Sincerely, Frank Lemoine Code 697, Space Geodesy Laboratory NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland USA John Lillibridge NOAA Laboratory for Satellite Altimetry Silver Spring, Maryland USA From: flemoine@bowie.gsfc.nasa.gov ******************************************************************************** |