Wallops "Range of the Future"

As viable small launch vehicle options emerge, GSFC's Wallops Flight Facility stands out as a natural fit to host missions on its launch range, and to keep pace with anticipated launch frequency, range operations must also evolve to become more efficient. Though there are many aspects of operations to consider, this proposal focuses on the range's ability to forecast local weather conditions. More specifically, this proposal aims to establish a networked weather station at Wallops Flight Facility as a prototype for a larger effort that would ultimately enhance weather forecasting and modelling on the Delmarva Peninsula to benefit operations, earth science, and other regional interests.

Earth Science:

Establishing a pilot mesonet at WFF will provide Code 610 scientists with an efficient, cost effective, and reliable means of calibrating and ground-validating global remote sensing measurements. Earth scientists would use the system to characterize and to quantify temporal atmospheric variations on a local scale. This would offer a better understanding of local variability and influences that would otherwise be missed by space-based measurements.

The Wallops Mesonet will enable the science community to address scientific topics of global importance as identified in the 2017 Earth Science Decadal Survey. The Decadal Survey notes that comprehensive observations of Earth's changes help us understand the myriad of natural and man-made changes to the planet, and are essential to ensure a thriving society. The 2017 Decadal Survey addresses 35 key science topics and those prioritized as most important fell into six categories below:

1. Coupling of water and energy cycles.
2. Ecosystem change
3. Extending and Improving Weather and Air Quality Forecasts.
4. Reducing Climate Uncertainty and Informing Societal Response.
5. Sea Level Rise.
6. Surface Dynamics, Geological Hazards and Disasters.

Range Operations:

At present, Wallops does not have a high-resolution meteorological model that is specific to the local area. Errors in the forecasting of weather can be costly in terms of launch delays and in terms of public safety. Decisions to cancel or delay are made based on predictions made by the range weather models. Launch cancellation during the countdown can be very costly particularly when cancellation occurs close to the launch time. Furthermore, providing overly conservative launch availability would unnecessarily eliminate potential launch attempts. Keeping launch crew and support personnel on a standby mode is also expensive particularly when the majority of the teams are on TDY.

Range Safety:

Launching rockets involves hazardous operations and has inherent potential for catastrophic failure. As part of the range's standard operating procedure, risks associated with launch hazards are assessed before flight as well as time of launch to determine whether the level of risk is acceptable. However, most if not all of launch-related hazards are dependent on weather forecast. In addition, Range Safety Officers and Emergency Managers depend on weather forecasts to determine shelter locations, clearance areas, and contingency plans. Enabling the range to increase the accuracy of weather forecasting and now-casting is indispensable to the safety of the public, mission-essential personnel, first responders, and Interim Response Team (IRT). The accuracy of the forecasting cannot be increased nor can a high-resolution meteorological model be developed without collected local weather data such as would be provided by the Wallops Mesonet. This pilot effort will show how the Wallops Mesonet would be used to enhance public safety and to provide information required to make cost effective and safety conscious decisions.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 1) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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