Session
Technical Session IX: The Horizion-- New Small Satellite Missions or Sensors to Broaden Our Understanding of Space: Section II
Abstract
The Geospace Missions are the second major mission element in NASA’s Living With a Star program. The missions are designed to help scientists understand, and eventually predict, the response of the geo-space system to solar activity. The investigations will be carried out by two pairs of spacecraft and a high-altitude far ultraviolet (FUV) imager. This observatory network provides the first opportunity to make multi-point in situ measurements of the ionosphere-thermosphere (I-T) system and the radiation belts (RB) with coordinated measurements between the two regions. The first two spacecraft are the I-T Storm Probes (I-TSP), which will study mid-latitude ionospheric vari-ability. They will be launched on a Taurus-class launch vehicle into a 450km circular orbit at 60° inclina-tion. The second pair of spacecraft is the RB Storm Probes (RBSP) that will study the dynamics of radiation belt ions and electrons. These spacecraft will be launched on a Delta II-class launch vehicle into a low inclination, near-GTO orbit. The launch timelines are phased to enable all four spacecraft to make observations at or near solar maximum when solar and geospace activity are the most frequent and severe. The FUV imager will fly on a mission of opportunity in conjunction with I-TSP and RBSP as a payload on a high-altitude spacecraft. One of the greatest challenges of the Geospace Missions is performing groundbreaking science on four dedicated platforms and an imaging instrument within a $400 million total budget. Advancements in small satellite technology and capabilities have enabled the missions; future developments could greatly improve the quality and quantity of science that can be performed with the limited funding resources. This paper provides a brief overview of the I-TSP and RBSP mission requirements, discusses some of the key system-level design challenges, and presents candidate spacecraft concepts.
Presentation Slides
The Living With a Star Geospace Missions
The Geospace Missions are the second major mission element in NASA’s Living With a Star program. The missions are designed to help scientists understand, and eventually predict, the response of the geo-space system to solar activity. The investigations will be carried out by two pairs of spacecraft and a high-altitude far ultraviolet (FUV) imager. This observatory network provides the first opportunity to make multi-point in situ measurements of the ionosphere-thermosphere (I-T) system and the radiation belts (RB) with coordinated measurements between the two regions. The first two spacecraft are the I-T Storm Probes (I-TSP), which will study mid-latitude ionospheric vari-ability. They will be launched on a Taurus-class launch vehicle into a 450km circular orbit at 60° inclina-tion. The second pair of spacecraft is the RB Storm Probes (RBSP) that will study the dynamics of radiation belt ions and electrons. These spacecraft will be launched on a Delta II-class launch vehicle into a low inclination, near-GTO orbit. The launch timelines are phased to enable all four spacecraft to make observations at or near solar maximum when solar and geospace activity are the most frequent and severe. The FUV imager will fly on a mission of opportunity in conjunction with I-TSP and RBSP as a payload on a high-altitude spacecraft. One of the greatest challenges of the Geospace Missions is performing groundbreaking science on four dedicated platforms and an imaging instrument within a $400 million total budget. Advancements in small satellite technology and capabilities have enabled the missions; future developments could greatly improve the quality and quantity of science that can be performed with the limited funding resources. This paper provides a brief overview of the I-TSP and RBSP mission requirements, discusses some of the key system-level design challenges, and presents candidate spacecraft concepts.
