| 1. |
- Alday, Juan, et al.
(författare)
-
New constraints on Ganymede's hydrogen corona : Analysis of Lyman-alpha emissions observed by HST/STIS between 1998 and 2014
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Planetary and Space Science. - : Elsevier. - 0032-0633 .- 1873-5088. ; 148, s. 35-44
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Far-ultraviolet observations of Ganymede's atmospheric emissions were obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) onboard of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) on several occasions between 1998 and 2014. We analyze the Lyman-alpha emission from four HST campaigns in order to constrain the abundance and variation of atomic hydrogen in Ganymede's atmosphere. We apply a forward model that estimates surface reflection and resonant scattering in an escaping corona of the solar Lyman-alpha flux, taking into account the effects of the hydrogen in the interplanetary medium. The atmospheric emissions around Ganymede's disk derived for the observations taken between 1998 and 2011 are consistent with a hydrogen corona in the density range of (5-8) x 10(3) cm(-3) at the surface. The hydrogen density appears to be generally stable in that period. In 2014, Ganymede's corona brightness is approximately 3 times lower during two observations of Ganymede's trailing hemisphere and hardly detectable at all during two observations of the leading hemisphere. We also investigate extinction of Ganymede's coronal emissions in the Earth's upper atmosphere or geocorona. For small Doppler shifts, resonant scattering in the geocorona of the moon corona emissions can effectively reduce the brightness observed by HST. In the case of the 2014 leading hemisphere observations, an estimated extinction of 80% might explain the non-detection of Ganymede's hydrogen corona. Geocoronal extinction might also explain a previously detected hemispheric difference from Callisto's hydrogen corona.
|
|
| 2. |
- Balmer, G., et al.
(författare)
-
ISAAC : A REXUS STUDENT EXPERIMENT TO DEMONSTRATE AN EJECTION SYSTEM WITH PREDEFINED DIRECTION
- 2015
-
Ingår i: EUROPEAN ROCKET AND BALLOON. - 9789292212940 ; , s. 235-242
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- ISAAC - Infrared Spectroscopy to Analyse the middle Atmosphere Composition was a student experiment launched from SSC's Esrange Space Centre, Sweden, on 29th May 2014, on board the sounding rocket REXUS 15 in the frame of the REXUS/BEXUS programme. The main focus of the experiment was to implement an ejection system for two large Free Falling Units (FFUs) (240 mm x 80 mm) to be ejected from a spinning rocket into a predefined direction. The system design relied on a spring-based ejection system. Sun and angular rate sensors were used to control and time the ejection. The flight data includes telemetry from the Rocket Mounted Unit (RMU), received and saved during flight, as well as video footage from the GoPro camera mounted inside the RMU and recovered after the flight. The FFUs' direction, speed and spin frequency as well as the rocket spin frequency were determined by analyzing the video footage. The FFU-Rocket-Sun angles were 64.3 degrees and 104.3 degrees, within the required margins of 90 degrees +/- 45 degrees. The FFU speeds were 3.98 m/s and 3.74 m/s, lower than the expected 5 +/- 1 m/s. The FFUs' spin frequencies were 1.38 Hz and 1.60 Hz, approximately half the rocket's spin frequency. The rocket spin rate slightly changed from 3.163 Hz before the ejection to 3.117 Hz after the ejection of the two FFUs. The angular rate, sun sensor data and temperature on the inside of the rocket module skin were also recorded. The experiment design and results of the data analysis are presented in this paper.
|
|
| 3. |
- Belyayev, Serhiy, et al.
(författare)
-
Effect of second harmonic in pulse-width-modulation-based DAC for feedback of digital fluxgate magnetometer
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Measurement science and technology. - : Institute of Physics Publishing. - 0957-0233 .- 1361-6501. ; 29:4
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Digital fluxgate magnetometers employ processing of the measured pickup signal to produce the value of the compensation current. Using pulse-width modulation with filtering for digital to analog conversion is a convenient approach, but it can introduce an intrinsic source of nonlinearity, which we discuss in this design note. A code shift of one least significant bit changes the second harmonic content of the pulse train, which feeds into the pick-up signal chain despite the heavy filtering. This effect produces a code-dependent nonlinearity. This nonlinearity can be overcome by the specific design of the timing of the pulse train signal. The second harmonic is suppressed if the first and third quarters of the excitation period pulse train are repeated in the second and fourth quarters. We demonstrate this principle on a digital magnetometer, achieving a magnetometer noise level corresponding to that of the sensor itself.
|
|
| 4. |
- Blöcker, Aljona, et al.
(författare)
-
Variability of Io's poynting flux : A parameter study using MHD simulations
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Planetary and Space Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0032-0633 .- 1873-5088. ; 192
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Io's plasma interaction creates an electromagnetic coupling between Io and Jupiter through Alfvén waves triggering the generation of auroral footprints in Jupiter's southern and northern hemispheres. The brightness of Io's footprints undergoes periodic variations that are primarily modulated by Io's local plasma interaction through the Poynting flux radiated away from the moon. The periodic pattern with two maxima near 110∘ and 290∘ Jovian longitude where Io crosses the dense plasma sheet is generally understood. However, some characteristics, like the 2-4 times stronger brightening of the southern footprint near Jovian longitude 110∘ or the lack of response to Io's eclipse passage, are not fully understood. We systematically study variations in Io's plasma interaction and the Poynting flux using a 3D magnetohydrodynamic model, performing a series of simulations with different upstream plasma conditions and models of Io's atmosphere. Our results indicate that the strong Jovian magnetic field near 110∘ plays a more important role than previously estimated for the strong brightening there. We find that the Poynting flux is not fully saturated for a wide range of possible atmospheric densities (6 ×1018 - 6 ×1021 m-2) and that density changes in the atmosphere by a factor of > 3, as possibly happening during Io's eclipse passage, lead to a change of the Poynting flux by > 20%. Assuming that these expected changes in Poynting flux also apply to the footprints, the non-detection of a dimming in the footprint during the eclipse by Juno-UVS suggests that Io's global atmospheric density decreases by a factor of < 2.5. We show that for smaller atmospheric scale heights (i.e. a more confined atmosphere), changes in the atmospheric density have less effect on the Poynting flux. The missing response of the footprint to the eclipse hence might also be consistent with a density decrease by a factor of > 3, if the effective atmospheric scale height is small (< 120 km). Finally, we provide new analytical approximations that can be used for analyzing the effect of the local interaction responsible for the footprint variability in future studies.
|
|
| 5. |
- Dahlgren, Hanna, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
-
Relation of anomalous F region radar echoes in the high-latitude ionosphere to auroral precipitation
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : Copernicus Publications. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 35:3, s. 475-479
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Non-thermal echoes in incoherent scatter radar observations are occasionally seen in the high-latitude ionosphere. Such anomalous echoes are a manifestation of plasma instabilities on spatial scales matching the radar wavelength. Here we investigate the occurrence of a class of spatially localized anomalous echoes with an enhanced zero Doppler frequency feature and their relation to auroral particle precipitation. The ionization profile of the E region is used to parametrize the precipitation, with nmE and hmE being the E region peak electron density and the altitude of the peak, respectively. We find the occurrence rate of the echoes to generally increase with nmE and decrease with hmE, thereby indicating a correlation between the echoes and high-energy flux precipitation of particles with a high characteristic energy. The highest occurrence rate of > 20 % is found for hmE = 109 km and nmE = 1011. 9 m−3, averaged over the radar observation volume.
|
|
| 6. |
- Dahlgren, Hanna, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
-
Variations in energy, flux, and brightness of pulsating aurora measured at high time resolution
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 35:3, s. 493-503
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High-resolution multispectral optical and incoherent scatter radar data are used to study the variability of pulsating aurora. Two events have been analysed, and the data combined with electron transport and ion chemistry modelling provide estimates of the energy and energy flux during both the ON and OFF periods of the pulsations. Both the energy and energy flux are found to be reduced during each OFF period compared with the ON period, and the estimates indicate that it is the number flux of foremost higher-energy electrons that is reduced. The energies are found never to drop below a few kilo-electronvolts during the OFF periods for these events. The high-resolution optical data show the occurrence of dips in brightness below the diffuse background level immediately after the ON period has ended. Each dip lasts for about a second, with a reduction in brightness of up to 70% before the intensity increases to a steady background level again. A different kind of variation is also detected in the OFF period emissions during the second event, where a slower decrease in the background diffuse emission is seen with its brightness minimum just before the ON period, for a series of pulsations. Since the dips in the emission level during OFF are dependent on the switching between ON and OFF, this could indicate a common mechanism for the precipitation during the ON and OFF phases. A statistical analysis of brightness rise, fall, and ON times for the pulsations is also performed. It is found that the pulsations are often asymmetric, with either a slower increase of brightness or a slower fall.
|
|
| 7. |
- Enengl, Florine, et al.
(författare)
-
On the relationship of energetic particle precipitation and mesopause temperature
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 39:5, s. 795-809
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Energetic particle precipitation (EPP) has the potential to change the neutral atmospheric temperature in the mesopause region. However, recent results are inconsistent, leaving the mechanism and the actual effect still unresolved. In this study we have searched for electron precipitation events and investigated a possible correlation between Dregion electron density enhancements and simultaneous neutral temperature changes. The rotational temperature of the excited hydroxyl (OH) molecules is retrieved from the infrared spectrum of the OH airglow. The electron density is monitored by the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association (EISCAT) Svalbard Radar. We use all available experiments from the International Polar Year (IPY) in 2007-2008 until February 2019. Particle precipitation events are characterized by rapid increases in electron density by a factor of 4 at an altitude range of 80-95 km, which overlaps with the nominal altitude of the infrared OH airglow layer. The OH airglow measurements and the electron density measurements are co-located. Six of the 10 analysed electron precipitation events are associated with a temperature decrease of 10-20 K. Four events were related to a temperature change of less than 10 K. We interpret the results in terms of the change in the chemical composition in the mesosphere. Due to EPP ionization the population of excited OH at the top of the airglow layer may decrease. As a consequence, the airglow peak height changes and the temperatures are probed at lower altitudes. The observed change in temperature thus depends on the behaviour of the vertical temperature profile within the airglow layer. This is in agreement with conclusions of earlier studies but is, for the first time, constructed from electron precipitation measurements as opposed to proxies. The EPP-related temperature change recovers very fast, typically within less than 60 min. We therefore further conclude that this type of EPP event reaching the mesopause region would only have a significant impact on the longer-term heat balance in the mesosphere if the lifetime of the precipitation was much longer than that of an EPP event (30-60 min) found in this study.
|
|
| 8. |
- Fernandez-Ayala, Victor Nan, et al.
(författare)
-
DESIGN OF A HALE UAV FOR ATMOSPHERIC IMAGING
- 2022
-
Ingår i: 33rd Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, ICAS 2022. - : International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences. ; , s. 1078-1087
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Optical phenomena in the upper atmosphere, such as northern lights, airglow, noctilucent clouds and thunderstorm-related transient luminous phenomena reveal the complex processes coupling different layers of the atmosphere and the near earth space. Bad weather and lighting conditions, as well as geographical constraints, limit the possibilities of ground based imaging. Therefore, an autonomous high altitude long endurance (HALE) fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is proposed for atmospheric imaging, as a joint student-driven research project between the Aeronautics and Vehicle Engineering- and the Space and Plasma Physics departments at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. The Autonomous Light Platform for High Altitude atmospheric imaging (ALPHA) is specifically designed for operations in the environmentally harsh conditions found in Arctic nighttime. This paper presents the conceptual design phase of the aircraft, as well as the initial manufacturing and flight testing methodology of a half-scale prototype.
|
|
| 9. |
- Futaana, Yoshifumi, et al.
(författare)
-
SELMA mission : How do airless bodies interact with space environment? The Moon as an accessible laboratory
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Planetary and Space Science. - : PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. - 0032-0633 .- 1873-5088. ; 156, s. 23-40
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Moon is an archetypal atmosphere-less celestial body in the Solar System. For such bodies, the environments are characterized by complex interaction among the space plasma, tenuous neutral gas, dust and the outermost layer of the surface. Here we propose the SELMA mission (Surface, Environment, and Lunar Magnetic Anomalies) to study how airless bodies interact with space environment. SELMA uses a unique combination of remote sensing via ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths, and energetic neutral atom imaging, as well as in situ measurements of exospheric gas, plasma, and dust at the Moon. After observations in a lunar orbit for one year, SELMA will conduct an impact experiment to investigate volatile content in the soil of the permanently shadowed area of the Shackleton crater. SELMA also carries an impact probe to sound the Reiner-Gamma mini-magnetosphere and its interaction with the lunar regolith from the SELMA orbit down to the surface. SELMA was proposed to the European Space Agency as a medium-class mission (M5) in October 2016. Research on the SELMA scientific themes is of importance for fundamental planetary sciences and for our general understanding of how the Solar System works. In addition, SELMA outcomes will contribute to future lunar explorations through qualitative characterization of the lunar environment and, in particular, investigation of the presence of water in the lunar soil, as a valuable resource to harvest from the lunar regolith.
|
|
| 10. |
- Giono, Gabriel, et al.
(författare)
-
An Analysis of the Statistics and Systematics of Limb Anomaly Detections in HST/STIS Transit Images of Europa
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Astronomical Journal. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 159:4
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Several recent studies derived the existence of plumes on Jupiter's moon Europa. The only technique that provided multiple detections is the far-ultraviolet imaging observations of Europa in transit of Jupiter taken by the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). In this study, we reanalyze the three HST/STIS transit images in which Sparks et al. identified limb anomalies as evidence for Europa's plume activity. After reproducing the results of Sparks et al., we find that positive outliers are similarly present in the images as the negative outliers that were attributed to plume absorption. A physical explanation for the positive outliers is missing. We then investigate the systematic uncertainties and statistics in the images and identify two factors that are crucial when searching for anomalies around the limb. One factor is the alignment between the actual and assumed locations of Europa on the detector. A misalignment introduces distorted statistics, most strongly affecting the limb above the darker trailing hemisphere where the plumes were detected. The second factor is a discrepancy between the observation and the model used for comparison, adding uncertainty in the statistics. When accounting for these two factors, the limb minima (and maxima) are consistent with random statistical occurrence in a sample size given by the number of pixels in the analyzed limb region. The plume candidate features in the three analyzed images can be explained by purely statistical fluctuations and do not provide evidence for absorption by plumes.
|
|
| 11. |
- Giono, Gabriel, et al.
(författare)
-
Multi-Point Measurements of the Plasma Properties Inside an Aurora From the SPIDER Sounding Rocket
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 126:7
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Small Payloads for Investigation of Disturbances in Electrojet by Rockets (SPIDER) sounding rocket was launched on February 2nd, 2016 (21:09 UT), deploying 10 free falling units (FFUs) inside a westward traveling auroral surge. Each FFUs deployed spherical electric field and Langmuir probes on wire-booms, providing in situ multi-point recordings of the electric field and plasma properties. The analytical retrieval of the plasma parameters, namely the electron density, electron temperature and plasma potential, from the Langmuir probe measurements was non-trivial due to sheath effects and detailed explanation are discussed in this article. An empirical assumption on the sheath thickness was required, which was confirmed by simulating the plasma environment around the FFU using the Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software (SPIS). In addition, the retrieved electron density and temperature are also in agreement with the simultaneous incoherent scatter radar measurements from the EISCAT facility. These two independent confirmations provided a good level of confidence in the plasma parameters obtained from the FFUs, and events observed during the flight are discussed in more details. Hints of drift-wave instabilities and increased currents inside a region of enhanced density were observed by the FFUs. Plain Language Summary This articles presents the measurements recorded by the SPIDER sounding rocket in 2016. The rocket ejected 10 free falling units inside an aurora. Each units was equipped with instruments to measure the plasma properties (density and temperature) and local electric and magnetic fields. Several technical issues occurred during the flight, limiting the usable data to only two of the units. Nonetheless, the article presents the plasma properties recorded along the trajectory of these two units, as well as comparison with plasma simulation and ground-based observation of the aurora, with cameras and radar. This provided a complete picture of the event. Although no propagating waves were observed between the two units, some interesting plasma layers with possible turbulent regimes are discussed. In conclusion, the article demonstrates the potential of multi-point measurements for auroral study, in particular for investigating waves and instabilities.
|
|
| 12. |
- Giono, Gabriel, et al.
(författare)
-
Photocurrent modelling and experimental confirmation for meteoric smoke particle detectors on board atmospheric sounding rockets
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. - : COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH. - 1867-1381 .- 1867-8548. ; 11:9, s. 5299-5314
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Characterising the photoelectron current induced by the Sun's UV radiation is crucial to ensure accurate daylight measurements from particle detectors. This article lays out the methodology used to address this problem in the case of the meteoric smoke particle detectors (MSPDs), developed by the Leibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Kuhlungsborn (IAP) and flown on board the PMWEs (Polar Mesosphere Winter Echoes) sounding rockets in April 2018. The methodology focuses on two complementary aspects: modelling and experimental measurements. A detailed model of the MSPD photocurrent was created based on the expected solar UV flux, the atmospheric UV absorption as a function of height by molecular oxygen and ozone, the photoelectric yield of the material coating the MSPD as a function of wavelength, the index of refraction of these materials as a function of wavelength and the angle of incidence of the illumination onto the MSPD. Due to its complex structure, composed of a central electrode shielded by two concentric grids, extensive ray-tracing calculations were conducted to obtain the incidence angles of the illumination on the central electrode, and this was done for various orientations of the MSPD in respect to the Sun. Results of the modelled photocurrent at different heights and for different materials, as well as for different orientations of the detector, are presented. As a pre-flight confirmation, the model was used to reproduce the experimental measurements conducted by Robertson et al. (2014) and agrees within an order of magnitude. An experimental setup for the calibration of the MSPD photocurrent is also presented. The photocurrent induced by the Lyman-alpha line from a deuterium lamp was recorded inside a vacuum chamber using a narrowband filter, while a UV-sensitive photodiode was used to monitor the UV flux. These measurements were compared with the model prediction, and also matched within an order of magnitude. Although precisely modelling the photocurrent is a challenging task, this article quantitatively improved the understanding of the photocurrent on the MSPD and discusses possible strategies to untangle the meteoric smoke particles (MSPs) current from the photocurrent recorded in-flight.
|
|
| 13. |
- Gumbel, Jörg, et al.
(författare)
-
The MATS satellite mission - gravity wave studies by Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography and Spectroscopy
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Atmospheric Chemistry And Physics. - : COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 20:1, s. 431-455
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Global three-dimensional data are a key to understanding gravity waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. MATS (Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography and Spectroscopy) is a new Swedish satellite mission that addresses this need. It applies space-borne limb imaging in combination with tomographic and spectroscopic analysis to obtain gravity wave data on relevant spatial scales. Primary measurement targets are O-2 atmospheric band dayglow and nightglow in the near infrared, and sunlight scattered from noctilucent clouds in the ultraviolet. While tomography provides horizontally and vertically resolved data, spectroscopy allows analysis in terms of mesospheric temperature, composition, and cloud properties. Based on these dynamical tracers, MATS will produce a climatology on wave spectra during a 2-year mission. Major scientific objectives include a characterization of gravity waves and their interaction with larger-scale waves and mean flow in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, as well as their relationship to dynamical conditions in the lower and upper atmosphere. MATS is currently being prepared to be ready for a launch in 2020. This paper provides an overview of scientific goals, measurement concepts, instruments, and analysis ideas.
|
|
| 14. |
- Hyvönen, P., et al.
(författare)
-
Small explorer for advanced missions (SEAM), a CCSDS compatible CubeSat supported on a global commercial ground network
- 2016
-
Ingår i: SpaceOps 2016 Conference. - Reston, Virginia : American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA.
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- A large portion of CubeSat projects have either been demonstrations or educational missions, where the science or operational concept has not been in focus. For efficient use of CubeSat platforms and realization of efficient services, either for scientific or commercial purposes, a full end-to-end design is needed, where the operational concept as well as a focused scientific or commercial rationale is taken into consideration. The SEAM project (funded within European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme) addresses parts of this challenge and develops operational concepts as well as on-board systems for scientific missions. The SEAM platform is using S-Band for downlink and uplink and is fully compliant to the CCSDS standards for satellite link services thus allowing compatibility with a global commercial ground station network. The project is led by the Royal Institute of Technology KTH and SSC is an industrial partner in the consortium. The 3U SEAM CubeSat is designed with an operational concept that includes on-board selection of data to download with earth in the loop, and flexible ground network scheduling. The spacecraft S-Band transceiver is full duplex with a downlink data-rate capability of 3 Mbps and uplink capability up to 100 Kbps. The communication link is CCSDS compatible in both directions, and operates with COTS multi-mission ground station equipment. A newly developed on-board module, that integrates mass memory and CCSDS functionality with a direct transceiver interface, is being demonstrated in the project. The data link layer of the CCSDS standards is implemented in hardware while the network layer and the data storage coordination in the mass memory are handled by software. This functionality partitioning ensures high data throughput and performance while providing flexibility in data collection and handling. It is noted that although the satellite is small, the complexity of such spacecraft is fully comparable to scientific microsatellites and its communication systems and operational concept use technology, equipment and procedures often found in much bigger satellites. The SEAM CubeSat is planned to be launched in early 2017 and the presentation will include the latest news from the mission operations.
|
|
| 15. |
|
|
| 16. |
- Ivchenko, Nickolay, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
-
Post-flight trajectory reconstruction of suborbital free-flyers using GPS raw data
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geodetic Science. - : De Gruyter Open Ltd. - 2081-9919 .- 2081-9943. ; 7:1, s. 94-104
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper describes the reconstruction of postflight trajectories of suborbital free flying units by using logged GPS raw data. We took the reconstruction as a global least squares optimization problem, using both the pseudo-range and Doppler observables, and solved it by using the trust-region-reflective algorithm, which enabled navigational solutions of high accuracy. The code tracking was implemented with a large number of correlators and least squares curve fitting, in order to improve the precision of the code start times, while a more conventional phased lock loop was used for Doppler tracking. We proposed a weighting scheme to account for fast signal strength variation due to free-flier fast rotation, and a penalty for jerk to achieve a smooth solution. We applied these methods to flight data of two suborbital free flying units launched on REXUS 12 sounding rocket, reconstructing the trajectory, receiver clock error and wind up rates. The trajectory exhibits a parabola with the apogee around 80 km, and the velocity profile shows the details of payloadwobbling. The wind up rates obtained match the measurements from onboard angular rate sensors.
|
|
| 17. |
- Jokiaho, O., et al.
(författare)
-
AURORAL DIAGNOSTICS FOR POGOLITE ASTROPHYSICAL BALLOON
- 2009
-
Ingår i: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 19TH ESA SYMPOSIUM ON EUROPEAN ROCKET AND BALLOON PROGRAMMES AND RELATED RESEARCH. - : EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY. - 9789292212353 ; , s. 195-200
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The PoGOLite balloon experiment, to be launched from Kiruna in August 2010 will investigate polarisation of X-rays from astrophysical objects. Auroral emissions in the measured wavelength range enhance the background level for the experiment, but also constitute an interesting object of their own. The state-of-the art PoGOLite instrument will benefit from careful characterisation of aurora, and could provide unique results on the auroral X-ray polarisation. We present the design of the auroral diagnostic package to be flown onboard the PoGOLite balloon. It consists of two photometers and a fluxgate magnetometer. The photometers are equipped with Fabry-Perot etalons, which are scanned in wavelength by tilting, to measure auroral emissions as well as the surrounding background. The fluxgate magnetometer will characterize the auroral electrojet currents (to put observations in context of the sub-storm dynamics), and low frequency waves, which are thought to be responsible for pitch-angle diffusion of trapped high energy electrons.
|
|
| 18. |
- Mashao, D., et al.
(författare)
-
3D triangulation of Transient Luminous Events over Africa
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Advances in Space Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0273-1177 .- 1879-1948. ; 72:3, s. 686-693
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present the first 3D triangulation of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) over Africa. The 6 TLEs were simultaneously observed in the middle atmosphere from Sutherland and Carnarvon in South Africa, separated by 192 km, during the 2019 sprites campaign. These two distinctive locations have low radio interference and are free from light pollution. The lightning times, locations, peak current, and polarities, which initiated the observed TLEs, were obtained from the South African Lightning Detection Network and Earth Networks Total Lightning Networks. We investigate the TLEs' altitude and horizontal displacement from their parent lightning strokes. TLEs appear approximately 12.5 to 49.3 km away from their parent lightning strokes. We found that TLE altitudes range from 29 to 92.6 km. The lightning electric field and peak current may be related to the displacement of TLEs and the TLEs' horizontal spread.
|
|
| 19. |
- Merino, Mario, et al.
(författare)
-
Collisionless electron cooling in a plasma thruster plume : experimental validation of a kinetic model
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Plasma sources science & technology. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0963-0252 .- 1361-6595. ; 29:3
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A central challenge in the modeling of the near-collisionless expansion of a plasma thruster plume into vacuum is the inadequacy of traditional fluid closure relations for the electron species, such as isothermal or adiabatic laws, because the electron response in the plume is essentially kinetic and global. This work presents the validation of the kinetic plasma plume model presented in (Merino et al 2018 Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 27 035013) against the experimental plume measurements of a SPT-100-ML Hall thruster running on xenon presented in (Giono et al 2018 Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 27 015006). The model predictions are compared against the experimentally-determined axial profiles of electric potential, electron density, and electron temperature, and the radial electric potential profile, for 6 different test cases, in the far expansion region between 0.5 and 1.5 m away from the thruster exit. The model shows good agreement with the experimental data and the error is within the experimental uncertainty. The extrapolation of the model to the thruster exit plane and far downstream is consistent with the expected trends with varying discharge voltage and mass flow rate. The lumped-model value of the polytropic cooling exponent gamma is similar for all test cases and varies in the range 1.26-1.31.
|
|
| 20. |
- Palmroth, Minna, et al.
(författare)
-
Lower-thermosphere-ionosphere (LTI) quantities : current status of measuring techniques and models
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : Copernicus Publications. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 39:1, s. 189-237
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The lower-thermosphere-ionosphere (LTI) system consists of the upper atmosphere and the lower part of the ionosphere and as such comprises a complex system coupled to both the atmosphere below and space above. The atmospheric part of the LTI is dominated by laws of continuum fluid dynamics and chemistry, while the ionosphere is a plasma system controlled by electromagnetic forces driven by the magnetosphere, the solar wind, as well as the wind dynamo. The LTI is hence a domain controlled by many different physical processes. However, systematic in situ measurements within this region are severely lacking, although the LTI is located only 80 to 200 km above the surface of our planet. This paper reviews the current state of the art in measuring the LTI, either in situ or by several different remote-sensing methods. We begin by outlining the open questions within the LTI requiring high-quality in situ measurements, before reviewing directly observable parameters and their most important derivatives. The motivation for this review has arisen from the recent retention of the Daedalus mission as one among three competing mission candidates within the European Space Agency (ESA) Earth Explorer 10 Programme. However, this paper intends to cover the LTI parameters such that it can be used as a background scientific reference for any mission targeting in situ observations of the LTI.
|
|
| 21. |
- Palos, Mario F., et al.
(författare)
-
Electric Sail Mission Expeditor, ESME : Software Architecture and Initial ESTCube Lunar Cubesat E-Sail Experiment Design
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Aerospace. - : MDPI AG. - 2226-4310. ; 10:8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The electric solar wind sail, or E-sail, is a novel deep space propulsion concept which has not been demonstrated in space yet. While the solar wind is the authentic operational environment of the electric sail, its fundamentals can be demonstrated in the ionosphere where the E-sail can be used as a plasma brake for deorbiting. Two missions to be launched in 2023, Foresail-1p and ESTCube-2, will attempt to demonstrate Coulomb drag propulsion (an umbrella term for the E-sail and plasma brake) in low Earth orbit. This paper presents the next step of bringing the E-sail to deep space—we provide the initial modelling and trajectory analysis of demonstrating the E-sail in solar wind. The preliminary analysis assumes a six-unit cubesat being inserted in the lunar orbit where it deploys several hundred meters of the E-sail tether and charges the tether at 10–20 kV. The spacecraft will experience acceleration due to the solar wind particles being deflected by the electrostatic sheath around the charged tether. The paper includes two new concepts: the software architecture of a new mission design tool, the Electric Sail Mission Expeditor (ESME), and the initial E-sail experiment design for the lunar orbit. Our solar-wind simulation places the Electric Sail Test Cube (ESTCube) lunar cubesat with the E-sail tether in average solar wind conditions and we estimate a force of (Formula presented.) N produced by the Coulomb drag on a 2 km tether charged to 20 kV. Our trajectory analysis takes the 15 kg cubesat from the lunar back to the Earth orbit in under three years assuming a 2 km long tether and 20 kV. The results of this paper are used to set scientific requirements for the conceptional ESTCube lunar nanospacecraft mission design to be published subsequently in the Special Issue “Advances in CubeSat Sails and Tethers”.
|
|
| 22. |
- Partamies, Noora, et al.
(författare)
-
Patch Size Evolution During Pulsating Aurora
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 124:6, s. 4725-4738
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report both decreasing and increasing trends in the patch sizes during pulsating aurora events. About 150 pulsating auroral events over the Fennoscandian Lapland have been successfully analyzed for their average patch size, total patch area, and number of patches as a function of event time, typically 1-2 hr. An automatic routine has been developed to detect patches in the all-sky camera images. In addition to events with decreasing and increasing average patch size evolution over the course of the pulsating aurora, events with no size trends and events with intermittently increasing and decreasing patch size trends were also found. In this study, we have analyzed a subset of events for which the average and total patch size systematically increase or decrease. The events with increasing patch size trend do not experience a decrease in the peak emission height, which was previously associated with the behavior of pulsating aurora precipitation. Furthermore, the events with increasing patch sizes have shorter lifetimes and twice as many substorm-injected energetic electrons at geosynchronous orbit as the events with decreasing patch sizes. Half of the events with increasing patch sizes occur during substorm expansion phases, while a majority (64%) of the ones with decreasing patch sizes take place during the recovery phase. These findings suggest that the visual appearance of pulsating aurora may be used as an indication of the pulsating aurora energy deposition to the atmosphere.
|
|
| 23. |
- Roth, Lorenz, et al.
(författare)
-
A sublimated water atmosphere on Ganymede detected from Hubble Space Telescope observations
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Nature Astronomy. - : Springer Nature. - 2397-3366. ; 5:10, s. 1043-1051
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ganymede’s atmosphere is produced by charged particle sputtering and sublimation of its icy surface. Previous far-ultraviolet observations of the O i 1,356 Å and O i 1,304 Å oxygen emissions were used to infer sputtered molecular oxygen (O2) as an atmospheric constituent, but an expected sublimated water (H2O) component remained undetected. Here we present an analysis of high-sensitivity spectra and spectral images acquired by the Hubble Space Telescope revealing H2O in Ganymede’s atmosphere. The relative intensity of the oxygen emissions requires contributions from the dissociative excitation of water vapour, indicating that H2O is more abundant than O2 around the subsolar point. Away from the subsolar region, the emissions are consistent with a pure O2 atmosphere. Eclipse observations constrain atomic oxygen to be at least two orders of magnitude less abundant than these other species. The higher H2O/O2 ratio above the warmer trailing hemisphere compared with the colder leading hemisphere, the spatial concentration in the subsolar region and the estimated abundance of ~1015 molecules of H2O per cm2 are consistent with sublimation of the icy surface as source.
|
|
| 24. |
- Roth, Lorenz, et al.
(författare)
-
An attempt to detect transient changes in Io's SO2 and NaCl atmosphere
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Icarus. - : Elsevier BV. - 0019-1035 .- 1090-2643. ; 350
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Io's atmosphere is predominately SO2 that is sustained by a combination of volcanic outgassing and sublimation. The loss from the atmosphere is the main mass source for Jupiter's large magnetosphere. Numerous previous studies attributed various transient phenomena in Io's environment and Jupiter's magnetosphere to a sudden change in the mass loss from the atmosphere supposedly triggered by a change in volcanic activity. Since the gas in volcanic plumes does not escape directly, such causal correlation would require a transient volcano-induced change in atmospheric abundance, which has never been observed so far. Here we report four observations of atmospheric SO2 and NaCl from the same hemisphere of Io, obtained with the IRAM NOEMA interferometer on 11 December 2016, 14 March, 6 and 29 April 2017. These observations are compared to measurements of volcanic hot spots and Io's neutral and plasma environment. We find a stable NaCl column density in Io's atmosphere on the four dates. The SO2 column density derived for December 2016 is about 30% lower compared to the SO2 column density found in the period of March to April 2017. This increase in SO2 from December 2016 to March 2017 might be related to increasing volcanic activity observed at several sites in spring 2017, but the stability of the volcanic trace gas NaCl and resulting decrease in NaCl/SO2 ratio do not support this interpretation. Observed dimmings in both the sulfur ion torus and Na neutral cloud suggest rather a decrease in mass loading in the period of increasing SO2 abundance. The dimming Na brightness and stable atmospheric NaCl furthermore dispute an earlier suggested positive correlation of the sodium cloud and the hot spot activity at Loki Patara, which considerably increased in this period. The environment of Io overall appears to be in a rather quiescent state, preventing further conclusions. Only Jupiter's aurora morphology underwent several short-term changes, which are apparently unrelated to Io's quiescent environment or the relatively stable atmosphere.
|
|
| 25. |
- Roth, Lorenz, et al.
(författare)
-
Constraints on Europa's Water Group Torus from HST/COS Observations
- 2023
-
Ingår i: The Planetary Science Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2632-3338. ; 4:5
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In situ plasma measurements as well as remote mapping of energetic neutral atoms around Jupiter provide indirect evidence that an enhancement of neutral gas is present near the orbit of the moon Europa. Simulations suggest that such a neutral gas torus can be sustained by escape from Europa's atmosphere and consists primarily of molecular hydrogen, but the neutral gas torus has not yet been measured directly through emissions or in situ. Here we present observations by the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) from 2020 to 2021, which scanned the equatorial plane between 8 and 10 planetary radii west of Jupiter. No neutral gas emissions are detected. We derive upper limits on the emissions and compare these to modeled emissions from electron impact and resonant scattering using a Europa torus Monte Carlo model for the neutral gases. The comparison supports the previous findings that the torus is dilute and primarily consists of molecular hydrogen. A detection of sulfur ion emissions radially inward of the Europa orbit is consistent with emissions from the extended Io torus and with sulfur ion fractional abundances as previously detected.
|
|
