Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2001
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001agufmsa42a..08h&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2001, abstract #SA42A-08
Physics
0358 Thermosphere: Energy Deposition, 2427 Ionosphere/Atmosphere Interactions (0335), 2439 Ionospheric Irregularities, 3369 Thermospheric Dynamics (0358), 3394 Instruments And Techniques
Scientific paper
For several decades, there has been little progress in predicting the Earth's ionosphere-thermosphere (I-T) dynamics and many of its significant features (e.g., the midnight temperature maximum). Recent measurements support the importance of three-dimensional coverage of the I-T region, strongly suggesting the need for multi-point simultaneous measurements. Multiple-altitude measurements of the I-T region from many small satellites (less than 10 kg each) operating simultaneously are enabled by new detector technologies. In addition to large reductions in mass and power, the new technologies enable direct measurements of energy distributions to yield the full neutral wind vector from a single platform. The satellites described address the scientific questions posed above including measurements of the neutral wind vector, temperature and density, ion-drift vector, ion temperature and densities, and vertical distribution of the atomic oxygen ion. This paper describes the approach that may be taken in a multiple satellite mission. Though identically instrumented, the satellites differ in ballistic coefficients. Dragging down at different rates, the satellites provide weeks or months of simultaneous operation at different altitudes, longitudes and latitudes in the Earth's thermosphere. The resulting data sets may then be applied to study features such as the midnight temperature maximum, a feature that is believed to propagate from the low thermosphere to the upper thermosphere while exchanging momentum and energy with the ionosphere. The altitude range of interest is 120 to 450 km; the upper altitude set by the launch opportunity.
Chakrabarti Sangeeta
Herrero Federico A.
Huba J.
Mendillo Michael
Spence Harlan
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