Other
Scientific paper
Dec 2001
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001agufmsm31b0786g&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2001, abstract #SM31B-0786
Other
2409 Current Systems (2708), 2427 Ionosphere/Atmosphere Interactions (0335), 2431 Ionosphere/Magnetosphere Interactions (2736), 2708 Current Systems (2409), 2736 Magnetosphere/Ionosphere Interactions
Scientific paper
NASA's Solar Terrestrial Probe (STP) mission Geospace Electrodynamic Connections, (GEC), has been defined by its Science and Technology Definition Team. This Sun-Earth-Connections (SEC) Program multi-spacecraft mission focuses on aspects of how the magnetosphere couples to the atmosphere. It will delineate the complex spatial and temporal scales in the ionosphere that are most important for energy and momentum transfer between the magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere, by providing key in-situ plasma and neutral particle measurements at altitudes where magnetosphere energy and momentum are dissipated. This will be the first NASA lower ionosphere mission in over two decades, and the first to carry a complete complement of plasma and field detectors, as well as neutral atmosphere measurements, over the polar cap at low altitudes. The spacecraft systems architecture for the mission was developed by the GSFC Integrated Mission Design Center. The mission concept consists of up to 4 spacecraft flying in formation along the same high inclination (83 degrees), eccentric orbit configuration (parking orbit: apogee ~2000 km, perigee ~185 km) with the capability of performing perigee excursions down perhaps to altitudes near 130 km. The satellites will carry identical complements of instruments. In order to accomplish the science goals of the mission, the design of the spacecraft will minimize disturbance of the ambient medium as well as minimize atmospheric drag. Another challenge is to maintain closely coordinated spacing of the spacecraft. These challenges are being investigated through an industry feasibility study, the next stage in the mission definition.
Buchanan R. P.
Grebowsky Joseph M.
Safko John
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