A Microwave Spectral Emission Model for Rocket Plumes

Early detection of threat missile launches is key for missile defense strategy.  However, detecting surface launches using space-based sensors under all illumination (day/night) and weather (clear/cloudy) conditions is extremely challenging.  While rarely considered for this problem, the microwave region (~3-300 GHz, ~1-100 cm-1, ~10(+4)-10(+2) micron) offers excellent cloud penetration and is not subject to solar illumination effects.  A key reason for the lack of exploration of microwave sensing of missile launches is the lack of a microwave plume signature model.  Spectral Sciences, Inc. will address this important need through the development of an innovative microwave plume radiative-transfer  model.  In Phase I, we will develop a fully functional microwave/far-IR version of SPURC covering the 1-400 cm-1 frequency regime, and including all the key molecular and particulate plume emission species.  We will use this model to perform a feasibility study of the utility of space-based microwave remote sensing of missile launches.  In Phase II, we will integrate the approach into FLITES, extend the potential range of applications to other problems of military and commercial interest, analyze field data, and perform a more in-depth evaluation of space-based microwave systems. BENEFIT: The end product will be a software toolkit for use in the design of passive and active microwave/far-IR remote sensing systems and in the analysis of data from such systems.  There are a wide range of military, Government Agency, and commercial applications of microwave/far-IR remote sensing that would benefit from the toolkit, including: (1) space-based detection of strategic missile launches, (2) airborne-based detection of tactical missile launches, (3) remote detection of chemical agent releases, (4) remote monitoring of factory facilities via their smokestack effluents, (5) space-based and ground-based atmospheric moisture profiling, and (6) monitoring of chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.