On February 28 and March 1, a Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III Science Team meeting was conducted in Boulder, CO. The SAGE III Principal Investigator, M. Patrick McCormick, kicked off the meeting with introductions, a summary of events leading up to this meeting, and a quick overview of the meeting agenda.
The objectives of this science team meeting were to:
The SAGE III Program Manager, Vicki Hall, presented the program overview and pointed out that the Office of Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE) issued SAGE III an "Authority To Proceed" letter on November 29, 1994, for three missions:
The SAGE III Program Scientist, Jack Kaye, gave the NASA HQ science perspective. He expressed enthusiasm about SAGE III having an international commitment and about how highly the Payload Panel spoke of SAGE III at the MTPE Joint Working Group meeting. He spoke of his vision for Russian cooperation by creating a science partnership (Research Opportunity) with Russian scientists instead of just a flight opportunity. McCormick told the group of his previous discussions with Charles Kennel (NASA Associate Administrator for MTPE) and Dr. Kaye about getting two Russian scientists on the SAGE III Science Team. He also would like to get a couple of Russians involved in the SAGE III algorithm development, possibly on a rotational basis to NASA-LaRC. A meeting with the Russian team is planned for April 3-7, 1995, at NASA-LaRC.
The SAGE III Deputy Project Manager, Debra Carraway, summarized the SAGE III project schedule, organization, and the Systems Requirements Review (SRR) that was held just prior to this meeting (see article in this issue on page 23). She emphasized the need for the Science Team to be thinking about minimal science requirements in the event that descoping options are needed for future project cost containment.
The SAGE III Project staff presented an overview of the METEOR-3M and Space Station (SS) missions and the instrument development status.
Joseph Zawodny, Co-Investigator, led the discussions for the science minimum success criteria. He pointed out that the SAGE III measurements had already been reduced by a factor of two prior to its selection. The Joint Working Group and the Payload Panel decided what minimum measurements are to be made. All our measurements are integrated and are all tightly coupled. Our current measurements are our contract with the EOS. The team members agreed that they would work with the Project if and when problems arise to help work around any design problems that may occur.
Michael Cisewski, LaRC-Lockheed, presented the mission concept for the METEOR mission and the SS mission.
Larry Klein, GSFC-Hughes, presented an overview of the EOS Data and Information System (DIS) and Paula Detweiler, LaRC-CSC, presented an overview of the Langley Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC). She introduced the Science Team to the Version 0 Langley DAAC Information Management System (IMS). A handout was passed out to the team that shows how to order and receive data. She also informed the team members to look on the EDHS (EOS Core System Data Handling System) document homepage for documents that will assist them in processing data on the upcoming Version 1 system.
William Chu, Co-Investigator, presented the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD) requirements and schedule for reviews and product delivery. He emphasized the importance to support the EOS requirements and the need to be able to process data in near real time. He identified 9-10 data products. The draft version is due in August of this year, and the final version is due by the end of December.
Michael Rowland, LaRC-SAIC, discussed a common language to be used for the development of the data products.
The Integrated Product Teams were discussed and agreed to during the meeting. An outline of the Aerosol ATBD was presented and discussed in detail. Several subgroups were formed to discuss particular assignments in the development of the ATBD for each data product.
In closing, McCormick led a discussion about when and where to hold the next Science Team meeting. Because the first draft of the ATBD is scheduled for delivery in August, it was suggested that a meeting was needed prior to this first delivery. It may be appropriate to conduct this meeting in conjunction with the SAGE III Preliminary Design Review which is scheduled for July in Boulder. No decision was reached on the specific date and place, but it was agreed that a meeting should be conducted prior to the first draft delivery date of August.