STAR Seminars

STAR Science Seminars
Presenter:
John Fisher, Brandywine Photonics

Sponsor(s):

STAR Science Seminar Series

Remote Access:
WebEx (for screen sharing only, see below for Audio):
Event Number:    906 360 813   
Password: STARSeminar
Event address for attendees:
https://noaa-nesdis-star.webex.com/noaa-nesdis-star/j.php?MTID=m18eed646df7ffd85d6039cd83fec0dea

Audio:
  
USA participants: 866-832-9297
Passcode:  6070416

Abstract:
The MetNet Alliance is currently developing a network of LEO small weather satellite constellations including imagers, upper atmosphere dynamics, microwave, space weather, and Hyperspectral IR Sounding. These small satellites shall provide key commercial weather data to NOAA, Department of Defense agencies, and weather analytics companies. For MetNet, Hyperspectral Infrared Sounding has been identified as one of the top observations needed for improving weather forecasts by providing temperature profiles, moisture profiles, and atmospheric motion vector (AMV) 3D winds. Brandywine's proposed solution is to provide global, high-resolution, hyperspectral infrared (LWIR) sounding data through a constellation of 24-36 small LEO satellites using modified commercial interferometers. A Small Business Innovation Research Phase I contract has been funded by Air Force Research Labs to evaluate the customer interest in CHISI to fill in key gaps in Defense global weather models. This talk will discuss the advantage of small satellites, more recent enabling technologies, and the roadmap to an observational infrared sounding capability.
KEYWORDS: Infrared Sounding, Longwave Infrared, Atmospheric Motion Vectors, 3D Winds, Temperature Sounding, Moisture Sounding, Commercial Data Pilot Program.

Bio:
John Fisher is the President and CTO for Brandywine Photonics, whose mission is to “Save Lives and Homes through Better Weather Data.” After working as an optical engineer at the U.S. Naval Research Labs, John founded Brandywine Photonics in 1999 to build his own airborne sensors. His work in oceanography culminated in the delivery of the Hyperspectral Instrument for Coastal Observing (HICO) spectrometer, which operated on the International Space Station from 2010-2015. In 2015, John transitioned Brandywine Photonics to weather satellite payload development, with currently three payloads in early stage development, and one funded for launch in late 2020. John is the Co-Founder of the MetNet Alliance which teams with other payload and data analytics companies in developing lower-cost, higher performance, small weather satellites.  He graduated from Penn State with a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering in 1986 and 1987 respectively, with a specialization in optics. John lives in Exton, Pennsylvania with his wife and family, and enjoys camping with his two sons in the Cub Scouts and watching his daughter's ballet recitals. 

POC:
Stacy Bunin, stacy.bunin@noaa.gov