Delivery of final AMSU-A units to enhance weather- data capabilities.AZUSA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 1995--In June, Aerojet, Azusa, delivered the final set of Advanced Microwave Sounding Units (AMSU-A AMSU-A Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit A ) in a series of four that were designed, developed and produced under contract to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), civilian agency of the U.S. federal government with the mission of conducting research and developing operational programs in the areas of space exploration, artificial satellites (see satellite, artificial), (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center The Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is a major NASA space research laboratory established on May 1, 1959 as NASA's first space flight center. GSFC employs approximately 10,000 civil servants and contractors, and is located approximately 6.5 miles northeast of Washington, D.C. . The AMSU-A instruments were developed and produced with funds provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Noun 1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - an agency in the Department of Commerce that maps the oceans and conserves their living resources; predicts changes to the earth's environment; provides weather reports and forecasts floods and hurricanes and (NOAA) and the National Weather Service. ``We are very proud of our team for achieving this significant milestone,'' said Ron Simpson, Aerojet's AMSU-A program director. ``All of the units exceeded the specified performance criteria by a substantial margin, making AMSU-A the most advanced spaceborne radiometer radiometer (rā'dēŏm`ətər), instrument for detection or measurement of electromagnetic radiation; the term is applied in particular to devices used to measure infrared radiation. produced to date.'' These radiometric sounding units will be flown on the Advanced TIROS TIROS Total Internal Reflection Optical System (Inova flashlight) TIROS Television and Infrared Observation Satellite polar orbiting weather satellites and will provide temperature and water-vapor profiles from the Earth's surface to 45 Km altitude. Each AMSU-A shipset consists of two units -- A1 and A2 -- with 15 channels and a frequency range of 23 to 89 GHz. The AMSU-A represents a significant improvement over the microwave sounding unit on the current TIROS spacecraft. ``The AMSU-A will add significantly to the meteorological and climatological databases being created throughout the next 10 years,'' noted Simpson. AMSU-A provides longer lifetime, improved accuracy and improved vertical resolution. Aerojet, a leader in propulsion, electronic systems, smart munitions and armaments, is a segment of GenCorp, a technology- based company with strong positions in aerospace, automotive and related polymer products. CONTACT: Aerojet, Azusa Michelle A. Simms, 818/812-1108 (office) 818/332-1750 (home) |
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