NSF QB50 talk
The Scientific Promise of Small Satellite Missions: Mindset change and research utilization of CubeSats Therese Moretto Jorgensen
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation Directorate For Geosciences
Therese Moretto Jorgensen, New Hampshire, June 2009
Space Physics at NSF Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
Solar Physics Magnetospheric Physics Aeronomy Upper Atmospheric Facilities Space Weather CubeSat program
Cube-sat based science missions: A new NSF program Space weather & atmospheric research and education 2-3 new science missions/ year Utilize CubeSat and P-POD technology development Collaboration with NASA WFF on commissioning and launch services Collaborate with DOD, NASA, Industry on launch opportunities Five projects started; 6th project pending award
Space weather and atmospheric research with CubeSats Science topics Solar & Heliosphere: Flares, Solar energetic particle events Ionosphere: irregularities, electro-dynamics, neutral interaction. Composition and chemistry Radiation belts and ring current dynamics, particle precipitation in LEO Atmosphere: cloud physics, albedo, lightning effects, polution, hurricane dynamics
Experiments E & M fields and waves; radio VLf-UHF; microwave Plasma and particles, electrostatic probes – mass & imaging spectrometers, eV-MeV Photometers & imagers; near IR- UV, X & gamma rays
RAX Science Bi-static radar measurements together with ground based ISR, e.g. AMISR Radar pulse Bragg-scatter off the irregularity and is received by RAX Characterize plasma density structures in the lower ionosphere at high latitudes
RAX Project: Interdiscipl collab Science: SRI Int. Spacecraft: U. Michigan 3U CubeSat mission UHF Radar Receiver payload Kick-off Sep 2008 Delivery Dec 2009 Launch May 2010 3-year grant
RAX Education: Student team at University of Michigan
FIREFLY Science Investigate Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) produced by the most st powerful natural particle acceleratorr on Earth. Unambiguously determine the lightning ning – TGF relationship and detect the parent ent MeV electrons
Firefly Project: Broad Collab: NASA GSFC; Siena College; HISS;
U. of Maryland Eastern Shore
3U CubeSat mission Eksperiments: Gamma-ray detector (10 keV to 10
MeV) VLF receivers (100 Hz to 20 kHz) 4 optical photodiodes (2 pairs: white light for lightening, red for sprites)
Kick-off Oct 2008 Delivery April 2010 Launch August 2010 3-year grant
DICE Science Storm Enhanced Density Features Investigate the formation of the SED bulge in the noon to post- noon sector during magnetic storms. Investigate the formation of the SED plume at the base of the SED bulge and the transport of the high density SED plume across the magnetic pole.
DICE Project: Broad Collab: ASTRA; Utah State University;
Embry-Riddly Aeronautical University; Clemson University
2 Cubesats (1.5U) relative distance ~300km after 6
months
Eksperiments: Electric Field (dual probe; 2m tape
booms) Ion Langmuir probe
Kick-off Oct 2009 Launch Late 2010 No launch manifest yet 3-year grant
Firebird Science Resolve the spatial scale size and energy spectrum of electron microbursts in the Van Allen radiation belts. 1. What is the spatial scale size of an individual burst? 2. What is the energy dependence of an individual burst? 3. How much total electron loss do bursts produce globally?
Firebird Project: Collab: Boston University; Montana State
University
2 Cubesats (1.5U) relative distance ~300km after 6
months
Eksperiments: Wide field of view solid state
detector (85mm diameter, GF ~356 cm2sr) multiple electron energy channels 30keV - 3MeV 100 msec time resolution
Kick-off Oct 2009 Launch Early 2012 No launch manifest yet 3-year grant
CINEMA Science Ring Current and Radiation belt dynamics
ENA Imaging of ring current and substorm injected particles in local time at a cadence as fast as 30 s Auroral particle precipitation
CINEMA Project: Extensive International Collaboration:
U. California at Berkeley, NASA Ames, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Johns Hopkins University/APL, Kyung-Hee University, South Korea, and Imperial College London, U.K.
3U Cubesat STEIN (Supra-Thermal Electrons, Ions, Neutrals) instrument
Neutrals 4-20 keV with high sensitivity and energy resolution (~1 keV). in situ electron and ion measurements ~2-4 keV to ~100 keV from a single detector.
Magneto-resistive magnetometer
Deployed on 1m spring-loaded boom
Kick-off Oct 2009 Launch Mid 2011 No launch manifest yet 3-year grant
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation Directorate For Geosciences
Therese Moretto Jorgensen, New Hampshire, June 2009
Space Physics at NSF Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
Solar Physics Magnetospheric Physics Aeronomy Upper Atmospheric Facilities Space Weather CubeSat program
Cube-sat based science missions: A new NSF program Space weather & atmospheric research and education 2-3 new science missions/ year Utilize CubeSat and P-POD technology development Collaboration with NASA WFF on commissioning and launch services Collaborate with DOD, NASA, Industry on launch opportunities Five projects started; 6th project pending award
Space weather and atmospheric research with CubeSats Science topics Solar & Heliosphere: Flares, Solar energetic particle events Ionosphere: irregularities, electro-dynamics, neutral interaction. Composition and chemistry Radiation belts and ring current dynamics, particle precipitation in LEO Atmosphere: cloud physics, albedo, lightning effects, polution, hurricane dynamics
Experiments E & M fields and waves; radio VLf-UHF; microwave Plasma and particles, electrostatic probes – mass & imaging spectrometers, eV-MeV Photometers & imagers; near IR- UV, X & gamma rays
RAX Science Bi-static radar measurements together with ground based ISR, e.g. AMISR Radar pulse Bragg-scatter off the irregularity and is received by RAX Characterize plasma density structures in the lower ionosphere at high latitudes
RAX Project: Interdiscipl collab Science: SRI Int. Spacecraft: U. Michigan 3U CubeSat mission UHF Radar Receiver payload Kick-off Sep 2008 Delivery Dec 2009 Launch May 2010 3-year grant
RAX Education: Student team at University of Michigan
FIREFLY Science Investigate Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) produced by the most st powerful natural particle acceleratorr on Earth. Unambiguously determine the lightning ning – TGF relationship and detect the parent ent MeV electrons
Firefly Project: Broad Collab: NASA GSFC; Siena College; HISS;
U. of Maryland Eastern Shore
3U CubeSat mission Eksperiments: Gamma-ray detector (10 keV to 10
MeV) VLF receivers (100 Hz to 20 kHz) 4 optical photodiodes (2 pairs: white light for lightening, red for sprites)
Kick-off Oct 2008 Delivery April 2010 Launch August 2010 3-year grant
DICE Science Storm Enhanced Density Features Investigate the formation of the SED bulge in the noon to post- noon sector during magnetic storms. Investigate the formation of the SED plume at the base of the SED bulge and the transport of the high density SED plume across the magnetic pole.
DICE Project: Broad Collab: ASTRA; Utah State University;
Embry-Riddly Aeronautical University; Clemson University
2 Cubesats (1.5U) relative distance ~300km after 6
months
Eksperiments: Electric Field (dual probe; 2m tape
booms) Ion Langmuir probe
Kick-off Oct 2009 Launch Late 2010 No launch manifest yet 3-year grant
Firebird Science Resolve the spatial scale size and energy spectrum of electron microbursts in the Van Allen radiation belts. 1. What is the spatial scale size of an individual burst? 2. What is the energy dependence of an individual burst? 3. How much total electron loss do bursts produce globally?
Firebird Project: Collab: Boston University; Montana State
University
2 Cubesats (1.5U) relative distance ~300km after 6
months
Eksperiments: Wide field of view solid state
detector (85mm diameter, GF ~356 cm2sr) multiple electron energy channels 30keV - 3MeV 100 msec time resolution
Kick-off Oct 2009 Launch Early 2012 No launch manifest yet 3-year grant
CINEMA Science Ring Current and Radiation belt dynamics
ENA Imaging of ring current and substorm injected particles in local time at a cadence as fast as 30 s Auroral particle precipitation
CINEMA Project: Extensive International Collaboration:
U. California at Berkeley, NASA Ames, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Johns Hopkins University/APL, Kyung-Hee University, South Korea, and Imperial College London, U.K.
3U Cubesat STEIN (Supra-Thermal Electrons, Ions, Neutrals) instrument
Neutrals 4-20 keV with high sensitivity and energy resolution (~1 keV). in situ electron and ion measurements ~2-4 keV to ~100 keV from a single detector.
Magneto-resistive magnetometer
Deployed on 1m spring-loaded boom
Kick-off Oct 2009 Launch Mid 2011 No launch manifest yet 3-year grant
