Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

ENGINEERING COLLOQUIUM

Tuesday, February 17, 1998 /3:00 P.M., Building 3 Auditorium
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Richard Lyon, Robert Cromp, David Israel

TECHNOLOGY FORUM 98-1

TOPIC #1: Phase Retrieval, Wavefront Sensing, & Optical Control Systems

Methods of phase retrieval have had recent successes in restoring aberated imagery to the optical design resolution, which have made it the primary method of wavefront sensing on future optical flight missions. A new phase retrieval based laboratory at GSFC will demonstrate the concept of phase retrieval and phase diversity in a controlled laboratory environment. This talk will overview "phase retrieval" technology.

Speaker: Richard Lyon was the principal investigator for the Hughes Danbury optical phase retrieval effort to deduce the HST wavefront error from on-orbit imagery. He holds a BS in Physics from the University of Massachusetts and a MS in Optics from the University of Rochester. Mr. Lyon has received three NASA awards for work on the Hubble Space Telescope and is a member of the Optical Society of America (OSA) and the Society for Photo-Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

TOPIC # 2: Regional Validation Centers Manage Realtime Access to Satellite Data

Computer Science researchers in Code 935 recently developed a fully automated end-to-end system, referred to as a Regional Validation Center (RVC), that enables interested communities from within the general public to acquire and use up-to-the-moment satellite imagery of their local geographical region. Along with a demonstration of the system, we present an overview of the underlying modules and a discussion of open research challenges.

Speaker: Robert Cromp holds a BS, MS, and PhD in Computer Science. He has worked for the Applied Information Sciences Branch, Code 935, for 10 years on intelligent systems for the acquisition, storage, and management of satellite derived data products.

TOPIC #3: Innovative Uses for TDRSS

Using the recently installed South Pole TDRSS Relay (SPTR) Scientists at Goddard can control their instruments at the Pole using standard Internet Protocols on their desktops. This full duplex service can be provided to other Missions where alternate services are unavailable.

Speaker: Dave Israel has been in the RF Systems Section at NASA/GSFC since 1989. He holds a BSEE (1989) in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a MSEE (1966) in Satellite Communications from George Washington University.