Subject: [SLR-Mail] No. 1383: Tracking for GFO-1
From: Frank Lemoine <flemoine@bowie.gsfc.nasa.gov>

********************************************************************************
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&#180;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 

********************************************************************************