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The
image above provides intermediate results from
ACT's processing of the MSTI2 MWIR camera while
looking at the Lake Tahoe Stampeed Reservoir.
Observation Date & Time: 20/8/94 at 14:40,
Cotton Wood Forest (39.4 lat,120.35 West long.)
Affected Area: 55,000 acres.
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The
Miniature Sensor Technology Integration (MSTI) program began
in 1992 with the goal of producing a fast response capability
and demonstrating access to space within nine months of program's
inception.
The
MSTI-2 satellite was a Ballistic Missile Defense Organization
(BMDO) satellite launched using the last Scout vehicle in
May 1994. The satellite operated in a 431 km circular Earth
orbit with a sun-synchronous geometry (approximately 6:40
equatorial crossing time). MSTI-2 contains two infrared cameras:
a PtSi SWIR camera with a single spectral filter and an InSb
MWIR camera with a six position filter wheel. The mission
requirement for MSTI-2 was to track boosting targets below
the horizon in the SWIR. MSTI-2 successfully tracked the first
stage of a Minuteman 3 missile. The MWIR camera was included
to attempt below- the-horizon background clutter measurements
as a precursor to MSTI-3 and to provide backup to the SWIR
track camera.
ACT's
responsibility for MSTI-2 was to determine the source for
anomalous target tracker performance. With the use of ProVIEW,
ACT completely modeled the Automated Target Tracker system
in MSTI-2 within a total of three days, thereby permitting
a timely identification of the source of the anomaly. Consequently
ACT began providing systematic image analysis to most of the
MSTI-2 observations.
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Calibrated
MSTI3 images of Washington, D.C.
(not georeferenced) .
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The
MSTI-3 is an Air Force and Ballistic Missile Defense Organization
(BMDO) experiment launched in early 1996 using the Pegasus
booster with the L-1011. It is the first of the MSTI satellites
with the science-driven primary objectives and is a good example
of how science can be served from a small satellite in a low
earth orbit. MSTI-3 is an advanced technology demonstration
platform whose primary objective is to characterize the SWIR
(2.7 *m) and MWIR (4.3 *m) background clutter to the fidelity
necessary to design sensors to perform early warning acquisition
and warm body track below the horizon (BTH).
Similar
to the LACE/UVPI and Clementine I programs, ACT has established
all front end image processing capabilities for MSTI-3. An
image data volume of approximately 10,000 images/day is currently
being processed to level 1A & 2.
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