However, PIANO takes everything a step further. Like NIRAC, the PIANO instrument features a novel, patented motion compensation system for in-track (orbital) and cross-track (Earth rotation) motion during longer exposures. There’s no other instrument that has the equivalent resolution that NIRAC has at night with the moon down, which is where its forte is.”Īerospace engineers conduct nighttime tests of PIANO to ensure it is fully operational prior to its launch. “We showed that this technique actually worked. Jim Hecht, Senior Scientist in the Space Sciences Department. “NIRAC takes some images that literally nobody else can do right now,” said Dr. This concept was proven by PIANO’s predecessor, the Near Infrared Airglow Camera (NIRAC), which launched on and has served as a pathfinder since for nighttime imaging done from LEO. “PIANO can collect nighttime imagery in almost complete darkness.” Lynette Gelinas, Senior Scientist at Aerospace' Space Sciences Department and the principal investigator for this project. “We will use the airglow layer as a flashlight to look at the ground,” said Dr. Day and night, chemical reactions in Earth’s atmosphere emit light-known as airglow-that PIANO will harness to capture images. PIANO will rely on an unusual technique to take photos at night with stunning resolution. Its name would erroneously lead you to believe it makes music, but the truth is no less creative. 21 on SpX-24 to support low-Earth orbit (LEO) weather and overhead persistent infrared (OPIR) augmentation missions. PIANO, which is short for Phenomenology Imager & Nighttime Observer, is a 45 kg camera designed and built by The Aerospace Corporation that launched Dec. It’s been so successful they’ve decided to do it again-with improvements. Inspired by faint light emissions from the atmosphere, a team of scientists created a superior nighttime camera and flew it on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2019. Satellite imagery has become an essential tool for many of today’s technologies, such as weather nowcasting and forecasting, terrain mapping, disaster monitoring for fires, floods and storms, and space weather impacts. A challenge, however, is most space-based cameras rely primarily on the sun or moon as their light source. With a successful installation onboard the ISS, preparation for PIANO to begin capturing images from space is now underway.
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