Session
Poster Session I
Event Website
https://www.smallsat.org/index
Abstract
Plasma irregularities in the F-region (200-800 km) of the night-time equatorial ionosphere have been shown to significantly influence the performance and reliability of space borne and ground based radio communication systems. Equatorial Spread-F (ESF) episodes may cause the disruption of satellite operations, communications, and navigation due to backscatter and radar scintillation. Current records of rocket, satellite, and radar data are not of sufficient quantity to allow for accurate models and predictions of the spectrum of irregularities. To provide a better understanding and predict F-region phenomena that may disrupt communications, it is important to perform in situ, or local, real-time measurements in areas that these irregularities begin. Typically, satellite orbits at altitudes in the bottomside F region have a very limited lifetime due to atmospheric drag. The objective of the Low-Flyer CubeSat mission is to provide scientific data through improved in situ instruments and methods to better characterize the F-region of the ionosphere. Achieving low altitudes near 200 km while still enduring a mission lifetime that encompasses each season, the Low-Flyer CubeSat mission intends to implement an elliptic orbit through the use of on board propulsion. This presentation will overview the technical details and operation of this unique CubeSat mission.
Included in
Development of a Low-Flying CubeSat Mission for F-Region Characterization
Plasma irregularities in the F-region (200-800 km) of the night-time equatorial ionosphere have been shown to significantly influence the performance and reliability of space borne and ground based radio communication systems. Equatorial Spread-F (ESF) episodes may cause the disruption of satellite operations, communications, and navigation due to backscatter and radar scintillation. Current records of rocket, satellite, and radar data are not of sufficient quantity to allow for accurate models and predictions of the spectrum of irregularities. To provide a better understanding and predict F-region phenomena that may disrupt communications, it is important to perform in situ, or local, real-time measurements in areas that these irregularities begin. Typically, satellite orbits at altitudes in the bottomside F region have a very limited lifetime due to atmospheric drag. The objective of the Low-Flyer CubeSat mission is to provide scientific data through improved in situ instruments and methods to better characterize the F-region of the ionosphere. Achieving low altitudes near 200 km while still enduring a mission lifetime that encompasses each season, the Low-Flyer CubeSat mission intends to implement an elliptic orbit through the use of on board propulsion. This presentation will overview the technical details and operation of this unique CubeSat mission.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2016/Poster1/4
