| Abstract |
QuikSCAT is a NASA ESE (Earth Science Enterprise) program satellite built by BATC (Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation) of Boulder, CO. The QuikSCAT mission was initiated in the wake of the lost NSCAT (NASA Scatterometer) instrument measurements aboard NASDA's ADEOS-1 satellite. The ADEOS-1 S/C ceased functioning June 30, 1997.
The overall objective is to restart NASA's ocean-wind measurement program, needed for improved weather forecasts and climate research. The NASA/GSFC contract to Ball was awarded under its new Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition (RSA) procurement program. QuikSCAT is a mission designed to complete turnaround from conception to launch in a very short period of time (one year). JPL's NSCAT/SeaWinds Program Office has been assigned responsibility and provides overall project management, as well as science, ground processing systems, and the SeaWinds instrument. NASA/GSFC manages the satellite development and operation. The spacecraft was built in a recordtime of 12 months.
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