The SAR Processing System Control Processor (SPS CP) computer program performs sequencing and job-control functions within the Alaska SAR Facility (ASF) [where "SAR" means "synthetic-aperture radar"]. SPS CP interacts with the Product-Distribution-and-Management (PDM) system of the ASF to receive processing orders as well as engineering and raw signal data. SPS CP provides a graphical user interface for operator control and performs job-sequencing functions to orchestrate the Raw Data Scanners (RDS) and SAR processors of the ASF to produce image data products. It is capable of displaying images to support visual data-product-quality checks. It is capable of recovering from errors caused by various abnormal processing events. The interfaces between SPS CP and the raw-data scanners and SAR processors are based on a client-server model with sockets and multithreading. SPS CP is hosted on SGI Origin or Challenge computers; the interfaces with raw data scanners and SAR processors are hosted on SGI Challenge, DEC Alpha, IBM SP-2, and Compaq computers. This program has been supporting ASF operations for over five years and its capabilities have been continuously enhanced to enable both large and small scientific-processing campaigns that have included mapping of the Amazon rain forest, the Antarctic Mapping Mission, and the Arctic Snapshot Mission.

This program was written by Eugene Chu, Daniel Fineman, Pearl Haw, John Ho, Nancy Perry, Cris Sandoval, and Joanne Shimada of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.nasatech.com/tsp  under the Software category.

This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Don Hart of the California Institute of Technology at (818) 393-3425. Refer to NPO-20713.



This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Document cover
Sequencing and Job-Control Software for Processing SAR Data

(reference NPO-20713) is currently available for download from the TSP library.

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