The GLAS Software Development Team (SDT) defines the methods and schedules for developing and implementing the Ground Data System (GDS) software for the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS). GLAS, an integral part of the EOS program, is a satellite laser altimeter designed to measure ice-sheet topography and associated temporal changes, as well as cloud and atmospheric properties. Operation of GLAS over land and water will provide along-track topography to fulfill the GLAS Science Objectives.
The major effort of the SDT is the development of the software to produce GLAS Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 standard products. These standard products will be made available to the EOSDIS users through the EOSDIS. The GLAS Science Team Leader is responsible for the development of standard data products software, and the Software Development Team will work under the Team Leader to support this effort.
The GLAS GDS will accept as input: the GLAS telemetry data stream from the spacecraft; the orbital location parameters; and ancillary data. The output of the system consists primarily of the science data products, at appropriate data rates and with sufficient precision, to satisfy the requirements of the Science Team and EOSDIS users. The system provides tools to assess the quality of the data products. The data quality and other metadata are also provided to the EOSDIS. The Science Team, rather than the SDT, will develop the software to produce orbit, attitude, and some of the Level 3 and Level 4 data products.
In addition to the software for standard data product production, the GLAS GDS will provide software to support assessment of the instrument’s health for the Instrument Operation Terminal (IOT). The Instrument Team Leader is responsible for the development of the IOT software. The SDT will support this development effort under the direction of the Instrument Team Leader. This software will interface with the EOSDIS to provide instrument control and monitoring capabilities.