Article Posted on : - Feb 17, 2011

The Glory spacecraft will separate from the Taurus XL rocket, deploy its solar arrays, and will eventually reach low-Earth orbit. A NASA photo

EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA (BNS): A NASA climate-monitoring satellite featuring a Raytheon-built sensor has moved one step closer to lift-off with the arrival of the Glory spacecraft at Vandenberg Air Force Base, in preparation for a scheduled February 23 launch.

Data provided by the innovative Aerosol Polarimetry Sensor, which will fly aboard NASA's Glory spacecraft, will help scientists better understand how aerosols impact global climate patterns.

Comprising 161 optical elements, including six precision-aligned telescopes that analyze light of varying wavelengths, the APS will make comprehensive measurements from multiple viewing angles in multiple spectral bands.

“The Glory Aerosol Polarimetry Sensor can distinguish between various types of aerosols and reveal the different role each plays in either warming or cooling our planet,” said Bill Hart, vice president, Space Systems.

“Since black carbon aerosols generally contribute to warming, and sulfate aerosols to cooling, the concentrations of these aerosols and others must be determined to ensure accurate climate modeling,” he said.

“With the information provided by the APS, policy leaders can make better-informed decisions with regard to addressing seasonal and regional climate change events,” he added.

Researchers have designed the Glory spacecraft to study the role of tiny particles known as aerosols, which are moving like a puzzle in the Earth’s climate. The spacecraft will also measure the sun's impact on Earth's conditions.