A surface-precipitation-rate retrieval algorithm for 13-channel Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) millimeter-wave spectral observations from 23 to 191 GHz is described. It was trained using cloudresolving fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5) simulations over 106 global storms. The resulting retrievals from the U.S. N...

This paper deals with the applicability of Robust Adaptive Control to the attitude motion control of large spacecraft. Large spacecraft and space structures, such as large communication satellites and the ISS (International Space Station), have been constructed on orbit. However dynamic characteristics of these structures can not be fully verified on the ground because of their size, mass and f...

The RACOON (Real-time Attitude Control and OnOrbit Navigation) laboratory was set up at our laboratory to provide an end-to-end simulation environment for teleoperated orbital activities. These activities cover aspects of on-orbit servicing missions with uncooperative client satellites as well as space debris removal missions. The current focus of the investigations is on teleoperation of proxi...

Small satellite technology has opened a new era in aerospace engineering by decreasing space mission costs, without greatly reducing the performance. The concept of formation flying using small satellites is becoming popular because of their potential to perform coordinated measurements of remote sensing space missions. The current state of art in satellite communications is a one hop link betw...

Previous research on cognitive radios has addressed the performance of various machinelearning and optimization techniques for decision making of terrestrial link properties. In this paper, we present our recent investigations with respect to reinforcement learning that potentially can be employed by future cognitive radios installed onboard satellite communications systems specifically tasked ...

remote sensing using small spacecraft arising from multi-objective economic activity problems is getting more and more developed. these satellites require very accurate pointing to specific locations of interest, with high reliability and small latency. the space borne imaging systems always attempted to achieve the highest ground resolution possible with the available technology at the given t...

The Synchronized Position Hold Engage Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) program, developed by the MIT Space Systems Laboratory, began operations aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in May 2006. SPHERES was designed as a research facility to demonstrate metrology, control, and autonomy algorithms for distributed satellite systems. By operating in the risktolerant environment of...

Tropical upper-troposphere clouds are expected to rise under global warming, contributing a positive radiative feedback. Here we show that Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) retrievals over 2002–2021 from the Terra and Aqua satellites report tropical-mean high-cloud altitude increase of 6.9 ± 2.7 m yr−1 (±2σ), while atmospheric models 5.6 3.0 1979–2014. During their common ov...

Nominal space trajectories are usually designed by solving an optimal control problem that maximizes the payload launch-mass ratio while achieving the primary mission goals. However, uncertainties and disturbances affect the spacecraft dynamics in real scenarios. This draws the designer towards the development of optimal feedback control strategies that assure the satisfaction of the mission go...

Optical backhaul downlinks from high-altitude platforms (HAPs) are investigated. An experiment demonstrated the advantages of optical links: a small and lightweight terminal with low power consumption was launched to the stratosphere and data transmitted down to a ground station at a rate of 1:25 Gbit=s: Owing to the chosen system parameters and the high budget margin, disturbing turbulence eff...