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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 1496.PDF
310 FLIGHT International, 29 August 1963 Contrasting structures involved in NASA's S-66 ionospheric beacon satellite project: far left, a Laser device is installed in a 60ft high telescope tower 20 miles south of Wallops Island, for optical tracking: left, the Scout rocket on its launcher at Wallops. Launch is scheduled for next month Missiles and Spaceflight US/SOVIET WEATHER-SATELLITE AGREEMENT The following is the text of the meteorological-satellite section of the US/Soviet Memorandum of Understanding on space co-operation, agreed on August 16 between the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Soviet Academy of Sciences. Other sections deal with passive communication satellite experiments, and with geomagnetic observations by satellite during the IQSY. Co-ordinated Meteorological Satellite Programme A. Exchange of Meteorological Satellite Data The bilateral space agreement of June 8, 1962, provided that the exchange of meteorological satellite data between Moscow and Washington be of approximately equivalent interest to the two countries. The following sections describe the data to be exchanged. It is agreed that, in general, the data exchange is to be completed within 6hr of the observation time so that it will be useful in weather analysis and forecasting. In all of the joint activities relating to meteorological satellites and exchange of meteorological data, the pertinent recommendations of the World Meteorological Organization shall be given due consideration. 1. Cloud photographs, (a) Selection of photographs. Cloud photographs will be exchanged; the selection of those to be trans- An improved environmental control system for the Gemini spacecraft was recently demonstrated during a two-hour test in a high-altitude chamber at Los Angeles mitted will be based on the following criteria: (1) areas of the Earth having few conventional observations; (2) pictures along active international air routes, particularly oceanic; (3) pictures containing patterns of meteorological significance such as fronts, vortices, cloud bands and streets. (b) Accuracy of location. (1) Positions of identifiable cloud elements in the pictures will be located with an accuracy of about 200km. Where landmarks are available, this accuracy should be about 100km. It is expected that this accuracy will be improved later. (2) The pictures will include latitude and longitude grids at 2° intervals. (c) Brightness levels. (1) At the satellite receiving stations, 6-10 brightness (grey) levels will be contained in the pictures. Brightness levels should be clearly distinguishable by eye, such as the ratio of the intensities of adjacent steps being equal to the square root of two. (2) The pictures as received at the end of the communications link will contain 5-6 brightness levels, if possible. (3) To aid in the interpretation of cloud images, copies of some of the original pictures transmitted over the link will be mailed to the other country. (d) Resolution. (1) The ground resolution provided by the pictures initially will be about 2.5km and is expected to improve to about 1km. (e) Field of view. (1) The minimum field of view, on the Earth's surface, of each picture will be about 1,000km on a side. 2. Nephanalyses. (a) Nephanalyses will be transmitted for all pictures received by the meteorological satellites, (b) Wherever possible, format, representation and map projections will follow World Meteorological Organization recommendations, (c) Polar stereographic projection will be used, except in equatorial areas where Mercator projection will be used, (d) A map scale of 1 : 20 million or 1 :15 million will be used as convenient to the trans mitting country. 3. Other satellite observations. As satellite observation techniques are developed to the point where they provide new useful information for weather forecasting, the data obtained will be considered for inclusion in this exchange programme. B. Exchange of Techniques and Results of Scientific Research To assist in making maximum use of the satellite data in weather analysis and forecasting, there will be an exchange, on a basis of mutual interest, of techniques of interpretation and analysis. It is
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