dynamic ionosphere cubesat experiment · 2017. 1. 5. · the dice mission consists of two identical...
TRANSCRIPT
1695 North Research Park Way • North Logan, Utah 84341 • Phone 435.713.3400 • www.sdl.usu.edu
SDL/11-230B
Plume
Bulge
Plume
Bulge
ASTRAUSU/SDLClemson
Embry-Riddle
SED plume forms polar tongue of ionizationMerged SuperDARN/DMSP Convection
Embry-Riddle
DYNAMIC IONOSPHERE CUBESAT EXPERIMENT
The DICE mission consists of two identical 1.5U CubeSats deployed
simultaneously from a single P-POD (NASA’s Poly
Picosatellite Orbital Deployer) into the
same orbit. Each carries
two Langmuir probes to measure in-situ ionospheric
plasma densities and electric �eld probes to measure DC
and AC electric �elds. These measurements permit accurate
identi�cation of storm-time features, such as the SED bulge
and plume, together with simultaneous, co-located electric
�eld measurements, which have previously been lacking. The
satellites separated relative to each other over time due to di�erences
in the ejection velocity. The use of two identical satellites permits the
de-convolution of spatial and temporal ambiguities in the observations of
the ionosphere from a moving platform.
Magnetic storms are part of space weather, conditions in near-earth space
that can in�uence the performance and
reliability of spaceborne and ground-based
technological systems. Ionospheric
variability has a particularly dramatic
e�ect on radio frequency systems. Some
of the largest gradients are found on the
edges of Storm Enhanced Density (SED)
features, which regularly occur over the
United States in the afternoon during
magnetic disturbances. These ionospheric
features need to be better characterized
and understood. The DICE program
provides simultaneous key electric �eld and
electron density measurements in the early
afternoon sector where many SEDs seem to
form. The DICE mission also provides new
measurements of SED features and insight
into what causes their formation, evolution,
and decay.
April 11, 2001 00:24 - Before the Storm April 12, 2001 02:25 - After the Storm
October 30, 2003, Storm November 20,2003, Storm
Image credit : Foster et al., 2005 Image credit : Foster et al., 2005
Image courtesy Jerry GoldsteinImage courtesy Jerry Goldstein
1695 North Research Park Way • North Logan, Utah 84341 • Phone 435.713.3400 • www.sdl.usu.edu1695 North Research Park Way • North Logan, Utah 84341 • Phone 435.713.3400 • www.sdl.usu.edu
Magnetometer
Langmuir Probe
Electric Field Probes
Langmuir Probe
Troposphere
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Exosphere
Stratosphere
DYNAMIC IONOSPHERE CUBESAT EXPERIMENT
MISSION SPONSORS