An Infrared Solution to a National Priority NASA Ice Detection and Measurement Problem

• Main Authors: Meitzler, Thomas, Bryk, Darryl, Sohn, Euijung, Bienkowski, Mary, Smith, Gregory, Lane, Kimberly, Jozwiak, Rachel, Moss, Thomas, Speece, Robert, Stevenson, Charles
• Other Authors: ARMY TANK AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING CENTER WARREN MI
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Snow; Ice and Permafrost; Manned Spacecraft; *NEAR INFRARED RADIATION; *SPACE SHUTTLES; *ICE FORMATION; CANADA; CRYOPUMPING; DETECTORS; METHODOLOGY; REPRINTS; ACCURACY; *EXTERNAL TANKS; ICE CAMERA; Canada; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA495969; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA495969

NASA has a serious problem with ice that forms on the cryogenic-filled Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) that could endanger the crew and vehicle. This problem has defied resolution in the past. To find a solution, a cooperative agreement was developed between NASA-Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Research, Development & Engineering Center (TARDEC). This paper describes the need, initial investigation, solution methodology, and some results for a mobile near-infrared (IR) ice detection and measurement system developed by MDA of Canada and jointly tested by the U.S. Army TARDEC and NASA. Performance results achieved demonstrate that the pre-launch inspection system has the potential to become a critical tool in addressing NASA's ice problem. Published in the SPIE Digital Library, Proceedings of SPIE v6542. The original document contains color images.