Optimisation and flight qualification for the Airborne Polar Experiment (A.P.E.)

Información del proyecto

SAFIRE-A

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: ENV4950045

Proyecto cerrado

Fecha de inicio 1 Marzo 1996

Fecha de finalización 28 Febrero 1998

Financiado con arreglo a

• Specific programme of research and technological development in the field of environment and climate, 1994-1998

Coste total

Sin datos

Aportación de la UE

Sin datos

Coordinado por

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF ITALY
Italy

Objetivo

The purpose of the present project is to prepare SAFIRE-A instrument for use on the Geophysika aircraft in view of the planned Airborne Polar Experiment (APE). This will involve flight qualification of the integrated instrument in simulated aircraft environments not only to assure its operation but also to verify that it meets specified safety requirements. The instrument will allow the characterisation of the ozone chemistry with simultaneous measurement of ozone and several other molecules including, for the first time, the critically important HOX species. Furthermore, the absence in the APE programme of middle-infrared and millimetre-wave instruments results in there being no capability for measurements of some critical species in the ClOX and NOX cycles. In order to fill this gap it is proposed to take advantage of the versatility of the SAFIRE-A instrument by constructing a second Cold Optics Detector Module which includes a long-wavelength channel (LW-CODM) to provide measurements of ClO, NO2 and HNO3 whilst retaining coverage in a second channel of the key HOX species.

SAFIRE-A is based on experience gained with a similar instrument used on balloon borne platforms and exploits
design improvements identified in the Phase A study for a space borne version of the instrument. Il uses a new
interferometric movement, that is more compact and provides optical compensation of mechanical errors, as well
as narrow band filters and a cold pupil which exploit photon noise limited detectors. The instrument performs
limb emission observations in the 10 to 200 cm-1 spectral region with a resolution of 0.004 cm-1. In the APE
campaign one detector will be optimised for detection of ClO, N2O, HNO3 and O3, and one detector will be
optimised for detection of HO2, HOCl, HCl, HDO, O3 and possibly HOBr.
The methodology for the flight qualification of SAFIRE-A involves the development of a mass/thermal
brassboard (mock-up) as well as a series of ground tests on the actual instrument. Flight tests will be carried
out on both the "mock-up" and on the instrument. Environmental tests of the flight instrument are done using
a baroclimatic chamber. Ground survival tests in the temperature range from -70 C to +45 C and operating tests
at both low temperature (-70 C) and low pressure (from 1 atm to 25 mbar) are performed.
Vibration tests are performed both on the mock-up and on the instrument. The mock-up is subject to vibration
tests according to the standard RTCA/DO-160. The instrument is subject to the vibration levels that have been
measured on the mock-up during its flight test.
The electromagnetic emissions and susceptibility (TBC) of the flight instrument are compared with standard
acceptance levels.
The procurement of the long wavelength (LW) cold optics and detector module (CODM), with the only
exception of some general purpose components and of the cryostat, will be attained by means of in house design
and construction. The optical analysis necessary to evaluate optical efficiencies, stray light and diffraction effects
at long wavelengths (> 500 mm) is carried out at RAL. The semiconductor thermometric material are
manufactured by SNCMP. The complete composite bolometers, including the bandpass and blocking filters, are
designed, manufactured, and calibrated by QMW. The 3He cooler insert, and opto-mechanical components will
be procured or made. The LW-CODM is scheduled to be manufactured on time for the APE campaign, but it
may not be available for instrument integration and testing. In this case the CODM developed for the original
SAFIRE-A will be used for instrument testing.

Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)

• ciencias naturales › ciencias biológicas › zoología › mamalogía › primatología
• ingeniería y tecnología › ingeniería mecánica › ingeniería de vehículos › ingeniería aeroespacial › aeronave
• ciencias naturales › ciencias físicas › óptica
• ciencias naturales › ciencias físicas › electromagnetismo y electrónica › dispositivo semiconductor
• ciencias naturales › ciencias físicas › física teórica › física de partículas › fotones

Programa(s)

• FP4-ENV 2C - Specific programme of research and technological development in the field of environment and climate, 1994-1998

Tema(s)

• 020105 - Stratosphere

Convocatoria de propuestas

Datos no disponibles

Régimen de financiación

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinador

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF ITALY

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: Via Panciatichi 64 ; 50127 FIRENZE ; Italia
• Coste total: Sin datos

Participantes (4)

COUNCIL FOR THE CENTRAL LABORATORY OF THE RESEARCH COUNCILS

Reino Unido

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: Chilton ; OX11 0QX DIDCOT,HARWELL,CHILTON
• Coste total: Sin datos

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Francia

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: 156 avenue de Rangueil ; 31077 Toulouse
• Coste total: Sin datos

FONDAZIONE PER LA METEOROLOGIA APPLICATA

Italia

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: Via Albert Einstein 35/B ; 50013 CAMPI BISENZIO
• Coste total: Sin datos

Queen Mary and Westfield College

Reino Unido

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: Mile End Road ; E1 4NS London
• Coste total: Sin datos