Session
Technical Session XII: The Next Generation
Abstract
The Dynamic Ionosphere Cubesat Experiment (DICE) mission is due to launch in October 2011 on a NASA rocket from Vandenburg Air Force Base. DICE was selected for flight under the NSF "CubeSat-based Science Mission for Space Weather and Atmospheric Research" program. Space weather refers to conditions in space (the Sun, solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere, or thermosphere) that can influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems. Ionospheric variability has a particularly dramatic effect on radio frequency (RF) systems; for example, large gradients in ionospheric electron density can impact communications, surveillance and navigation systems. Some of the largest gradients are found on the edges of Storm Enhanced Density (SED) features, which regularly occur over the US in the afternoon during magnetic disturbances. The DICE mission has three scientific objectives: (1) Investigate the physical processes responsible for formation of the midlatitude ionospheric Storm Enhanced Density (SED) bulge in the noon to post-noon sector during magnetic storms; (2) Investigate the physical processes responsible for the formation of the SED plume at the base of the SED bulge and the transport of the high density SED plume into the polar cap; (3) Investigate the relationship between penetration electric fields and the formation and evolution of SED. The mission consists of two identical Cubesats launched simultaneously into a near circular 600 km, nearly sun-synchronous orbit in the evening sector, precessing to earlier local times. Each satellite carries a fixed-bias DC Langmuir Probe (DCP) to measure in-situ ionospheric plasma densities, and an Electric Field Probe (EFP) to measure DC and AC electric fields. Additionally, a science-grade magnetometer will measure field-aligned currents. These measurements will permit accurate identification of storm-time features such as the SED bulge and plume, together with simultaneous co-located electric field measurements, which have previously been missing. The mission team combines expertise from ASTRA, Utah State University/Space Dynamics Laboratory (USU/SDL), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Clemson University. A large number of students (too many to list) have been involved in building and testing the DICE spacecraft, and this is truly a student experiment.
Presentation Slides
Dynamic Ionosphere Cubesat Experiment (DICE)
The Dynamic Ionosphere Cubesat Experiment (DICE) mission is due to launch in October 2011 on a NASA rocket from Vandenburg Air Force Base. DICE was selected for flight under the NSF "CubeSat-based Science Mission for Space Weather and Atmospheric Research" program. Space weather refers to conditions in space (the Sun, solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere, or thermosphere) that can influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems. Ionospheric variability has a particularly dramatic effect on radio frequency (RF) systems; for example, large gradients in ionospheric electron density can impact communications, surveillance and navigation systems. Some of the largest gradients are found on the edges of Storm Enhanced Density (SED) features, which regularly occur over the US in the afternoon during magnetic disturbances. The DICE mission has three scientific objectives: (1) Investigate the physical processes responsible for formation of the midlatitude ionospheric Storm Enhanced Density (SED) bulge in the noon to post-noon sector during magnetic storms; (2) Investigate the physical processes responsible for the formation of the SED plume at the base of the SED bulge and the transport of the high density SED plume into the polar cap; (3) Investigate the relationship between penetration electric fields and the formation and evolution of SED. The mission consists of two identical Cubesats launched simultaneously into a near circular 600 km, nearly sun-synchronous orbit in the evening sector, precessing to earlier local times. Each satellite carries a fixed-bias DC Langmuir Probe (DCP) to measure in-situ ionospheric plasma densities, and an Electric Field Probe (EFP) to measure DC and AC electric fields. Additionally, a science-grade magnetometer will measure field-aligned currents. These measurements will permit accurate identification of storm-time features such as the SED bulge and plume, together with simultaneous co-located electric field measurements, which have previously been missing. The mission team combines expertise from ASTRA, Utah State University/Space Dynamics Laboratory (USU/SDL), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Clemson University. A large number of students (too many to list) have been involved in building and testing the DICE spacecraft, and this is truly a student experiment.
