Mission simulation and instrument design for the Stratospheric Wind Interferometer For Transport studies (SWIFT) instrument

The Stratospheric Wind Interferometer For Transport studies (SWIFT) is a satellite instrument designed to measure stratospheric winds and ozone concentration. SWIFT will improve our knowledge of the dynamics of the stratosphere, global distribution and global transport of ozone, mid-range weather forecasting and global change issues. The SWIFT instrument is an imaging, field-widened Michelson interferometer and the measurement technique is known as Doppler Imaging Michelson Interferometry. The instrument is a follow-up to the highly successful Canadian WINDII instrument on NASA's UARS Satellite.;The ultimate goal of this dissertation was to accurately design the SWIFT instrument and define the mission profile.;A Mission Simulation Model was developed to simulate the expected observations of the instrument for different instrument characteristics, atmospheric conditions, orbit characteristics and measurement scenarios. Retrieval of level 0 to level 2 data products from the simulated raw data was performed.;The Mission Simulation Model and the Data Processing Model together were employed as an End-to-end Simulation Model for sensitivity analyses and error analyses. Sensitivity of wind measurements to instrument and mission characteristics was investigated. Random and systematic errors in wind and ozone retrieval were quantified.;SWIFT successfully completed a Phase B Study in 2005 and is currently undergoing a Risk Retirement Study. SWIFT is an international project that involved a number of organizations including the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), Environment Canada and COM DEV Ltd.;The system design requirements including instrument design requirements, calibration requirements and spacecraft requirements were derived using in-depth analyses. Trade-off studies were performed and the instrument design was iteratively optimized until the instrument satisfied the science objectives.;Performance analyses were undertaken and a scientific assessment of the instrument was performed. This dissertation has proved the capability of the SWIFT instrument for simultaneous measurements of stratospheric wind and ozone. The critical design issues and the main technical risks are identified.;In general, this dissertation has increased the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the SWIFT instrument and has reduced the development risks, which will eventually better position Canada to build the instrument, whether for a Canadian mission or for international opportunities.