Mr. John P. Carter Profile

John P. Carter

Senior Systems Engineer

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Publications (3)

Proceedings Article | 19 May 2005 Paper

Statistical analysis and ground-based testing of the on-orbit Space Shuttle damage detection sensors

Brian Miles, Elizabeth Tanner, John Carter, Gary Kamerman, Robert Schwartz

Proceedings Volume 5791, (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.609688

KEYWORDS: Statistical analysis, Sensors, Image analysis, Palladium, LIDAR, Image sensors, Error analysis, Damage detection, Light sources and illumination, Imaging systems

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The loss of Space Shuttle Columbia and her crew led to the creation of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB), which concluded that a piece of external fuel tank insulating foam impacted the Shuttle’s wing leading edge. The foam created a hole in the reinforced carbon/carbon (RCC) insulating material which gravely compromised the Shuttle’s thermal protection system (TPS). In response to the CAIB recommendation, the upcoming Return to Flight Shuttle Mission (STS-114) NASA will include a Shuttle deployed sensor suite which, among other sensors, will include two laser sensing systems, Sandia National Lab’s Laser Dynamic Range Imager (LDRI) and Neptec’s Laser Camera System (LCS) to collect 3-D imagery of the Shuttle’s exterior. Herein is described a ground-based statistical testing procedure that will be used by NASA as part of a damage detection performance assessment studying the performance of each of the two laser radar systems in detecting and identifying impact damage to the Shuttle. A statistical framework based on binomial and Bayesian statistics is used to describe the probability of detection and associated statistical confidence. A mock-up of a section of Shuttle wing RCC with interchangeable panels includes a random pattern of 1/4” and 1” diameter holes on the simulated RCC panels and is cataloged prior to double-blind testing. A team of ladar sensor operators will acquire laser radar imagery of the wing mock-up using a robotic platform in a laboratory at Johnson Space Center to execute linear image scans of the wing mock-up. The test matrix will vary robotic platform motion to simulate boom wobble and alter lighting and background conditions at the 6.5 foot and 10 foot sensor-wing stand-off distances to be used on orbit. A separate team of image analysts will process and review the data and characterize and record the damage that is found. A suite of software programs has been developed to support hole location definition, damage disposition recording, statistical data analysis and results presentation. The result of the statistical analysis will provide a quantitative indication of the laboratory performance of the ladar systems in the role of through hole damage detection.

Proceedings Article | 13 September 2004 Paper

Space Shuttle thermal protection system inspection by 3D imaging laser radar

James Lamoreux, James Siekierski, J. P. Carter

Proceedings Volume 5412, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.553810

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Inspection, Imaging systems, Cameras, Image sensors, Stereoscopy, Video, 3D image processing, Electromagnetic coupling, LIDAR

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Proceedings Article | 21 August 2003 Paper

Relative navigation sensor for autonomous rendevous and docking

James Lamoreux, Don Pearson, Gary Kamerman, Nick Carter, Paul Freedman, Thomas Ramrath

Proceedings Volume 5086, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.503202

KEYWORDS: Sensors, LIDAR, Space operations, Target acquisition, Navigation systems, Fourier transforms, Target detection, Radar, Satellites, Signal processing

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