Company Profile

Atmospheric & Space Technology Research Associates, LLC (ASTRA) is an engineering and physical science research organization with expertise in planetary, space science and upper atmospheric research, instrument design and fabrication, and data systems development. The firm's work includes modeling of the thermosphere and ionosphere of Earth and Mars, data analysis, data assimilation, and instrument development. ASTRA’s modeling capabilities include the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIME-GCM): predicting global 3-D temperature, density, composition and wind fields for the neutral gas, as well as ionospheric electron density and ion distributions from 30 km to about 600 km altitude. Modeling capabilities now include the Martian middle and upper atmosphere as well. ASPEN-Mars is able to simulate the Martian atmosphere from about 14 km to the exobase, including the ionosphere. ASPEN-Mars currently solves for the neutral, electron and ion temperature profiles as well as for the compositional profiles of CO2, N2 and OX = (O + O3), coupled through major species diffusion equations. It also includes as minor species with transport and photochemistry: O2, Ar, N(4S), NOX = (NO + NO2), H2O, H2, CH4, CO, and HOx = (H + OH + HO2) as well as ion chemistry. ASTRA’s work in developing cutting-edge technologies for mapping Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances in the F-region ionosphere focuses on complete characterization of these waves. Large TIDs can cause errors in operational systems employing GPS, radar, and radio. Data from TIDDBIT HF sounder technology makes it possible to sense and reconstruct the angular displacement of radio reflection surfaces to aid with real-time PNT compensation adjustments. The firm growing a global network to provide world-wide mapping for customers. ASTRA’s TIDDBIT HF sounder is a dual-frequency HF Doppler system that can detect and characterize waves propagating through the ionosphere. Using spaced transmitters and receivers operating at multiple frequencies, this unique instrument resolves both horizontal and vertical propagation characteristics. Complete TID information (speed, azimuth, wavelength, and amplitude as a function of period) Realtime operation and visualization of data Available 3-D visualization software to display TID motion