CATS

Spacecraft nº:

US spacecraft nº:

Launch data: Designation  15001 Launch date  10 Jan 2015 - 09:47 UT Launch site  CC, SLC-40 Launch vehicle  Falcon-9 v1.1 Mission  ISS component Earth Science Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee   km Eccentricity   Inclination   ° Period   min

Spacecraft data: Prime manufacturer  NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Platform  ISS payload Operator  NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Mass at launch  < 500 kg Dry Mass   kg Basic shape   Dimension (m)   Equipment  LIDAR Solar array   Stabilization   Propulsion  None DC power   Design lifetime  6 months (minimum), up to 3 years

The Japanese robotic arm installs the CATS experiment on an external platform on Japan’s Kibo lab module. The SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft is seen at the right center of the image. Credit: NASA TV

Description:

• The CATS (Cloud-Aerosol Transport System) is a experimental payload for the International Space Station (ISS), which uses a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system to measure the location, composition and distribution of pollution, dust, smoke, aerosols and other particulates in the atmosphere. CATS is mounted on the Japanese Experiment Module's Exposed Facility and is used to study the atmospheric constituents that impact global climate. By gaining a better understanding of cloud and aerosol coverage, scientists can create a better model of the Earth's climate feedback processes.

Mission details:

• CAT was transported by the Dragon CRS-5 transporter to the ISS in January 2015. CATS is installed on the JEF (JEM-EF) exposed facility of the japanese JEM module to enable nadir pointing of the science package sensors and instrumentation. Once CATS is connected to the JEM-EF, it is activated via the ISS command and data handling system.
• CATS was grappled by the Dextre robot on 2015 Jan 22 and unberthed from Dragon around 0700 UTC; it was then handed off to the JEM-RMS at around 1030 UTC and installed on the Kibo Exposed Facility at location EFU3 at about 1400 UTC.
• The CATS experiment was installed on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS) via a first ever type of robotic handoff, whereby one of the stations robotic arms handed the rectangular shaped instrument off to a second robotic arm. Sort of like relays runners passing the baton while racing around the track for the gold medal.
  
  

  CATS inside Dragon Trunk- Photo: SpaceX

  Artist concept of CATS on ISS. Credit: NASA