Using RUSALKA on the ISS to Measure Methane and CO2 In Earth’s Atmosphere
NASA: Cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, Expedition 20 flight engineer, uses science hardware RUSALKA at a window in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station to take methane and carbon dioxide measurements in Earth’s atmosphere at sunset. high res (1.2 M) low res (97 K) More information below.
NASA: Cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, Expedition 20 flight engineer, uses science hardware RUSALKA at a window in the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station to take methane and carbon dioxide measurements in Earth’s atmosphere at sunset. high res (1.2 M) low res (97 K) More information below.
Rusalka (Rusalka) Experiment/Payload Overview (NASA)
“Brief Summary: Test of the procedure to determine carbon dioxide and methane content in the Earth atmosphere to understand a role of natural processes and human activity determining the atmospheric content of NI2 and NI4.
Principal Investigator: O.I. Korablev
Sponsoring Agency: Russian Federal Space Agency (FSA)
Expeditions Assigned: 18,19,20
Experiment/Payload Description
Research Summary: Delivery and assembly of science hardware RUSALKA on the ISS RS. Calibration and test activations of science hardware relating to: Sun; Earth’s limb at the Sunset (atmosphere lighted). Test of the procedure for remote determination of methane and carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere (the first phase); Measurement of methane and carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere and reception of data on NI2 and NI4 content over the territories subjected to natural and technogenic effects, reception of sufficient data on seasonal dependencies of troposphere parameters being studied (the second phase).
Operational Requirements: Monoblock Rusalka; Digital photo camera Nikon D2X(s); Lens AF VR Nikkor ED 80-400f/4.5-5.6D with ultraviolet filter; Bracket for attachment to the window; Rusalka-Accessories set.
Support Hardware: Device TIUS DKShG/PNSK; Laptop RSK1; Software Package loading disk.
Consumables: Kit Rusalka-Dannye (6 pcs.); Kit Rusalka-AIP (2 pcs.); Kit Rusalka-FOTO (2 pcs.).
Operational Protocols”
RUSALKA experiment to measure carbon dioxide and methane from ISS O. Korablev and the RUSALKA Team
Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 11, EGU2009-13329, 2009 EGU General Assembly 2009 © Author(s) 2009
“Space Research Institute (IKI) Moscow, Russia (korab@iki.rssi.ru) RUSALKA experiment aimed to demonstrate the method to monitor CO2 and CH4 is now prepared for the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS). Hardware will be delivered to ISS in March 2009. The novel instrument is a high-resolution near-IR spectrometer combining an echelle grating with an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) for separation of diffraction orders. A compact design with no moving parts within the mass budget of 2 kg allows to reach the resolving power of 10000-20000 in the spectral ranges of 1580 nm (CO2), 1640 nm (CH4), in 49 and 47 diffraction orders, and of reference O2 bands 760 and 1270 nm, in 101 and 61 diffraction orders. Only one diffraction order can be measured at a time, but thanks to flexibility of the AOTF tuning, any order can be measured randomly and rapidly within the spectral range. A spectrometer, based on this principle, SOIR (Solar Occultation InfraRed) is operational on Venus Express ESA mission since 2005. RUSALKA investigation targets precision measurements of CO2 and CH4 integral quantities, in nadir/oblique or observing solar glint over the water surfaces. Test measurements are also planned in solar occultation mode. Battery-powered RUSALKA package consists of the spectrometer itself, standard photographic camera for context imaging, and adapters. Measurements will be performed by crew members pointing manually the target areas. Such measurements from ISS will allow to verify the method to be used in the future on different satellite platforms. The small size of the instrument makes it ideal for micro-satellites, capable to provide necessary pointing for glint or solar occultation observations. The status and calibration of RUSALKA flight hardware will be discussed.”
