Aurora: A Software Radio for Electromagnetic Vector Sensors in Space

Presenter Information

Frank Lind, MIT Haystack ObservatoryFollow
Mary Knapp, MIT Haystack Observatory
Phil Erickson, MIT Haystack Observatory
Russ McWhirter, MIT Haystack Observatory
Robert Schaefer, MIT Haystack Observatory
Tobias Gedenk, MIT Haystack Observatory
Frank Robey, MIT Lincoln LaboratoryFollow
Erik Thompson, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Mark Silver, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Alan Fenn, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Janusz Majewski, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Alexander Morris, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Wayne Boland, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Frank Schiavone, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Rebecca Masterson, MIT AeroAstroFollow
Nicholas Belsten, MIT AeroAstro
Alvar Saenz Otero, MIT AeroAstro

Session

Weekday Session 3: Science/Mission Payloads

Location

Utah State University, Logan, UT

Abstract

The AERO (Auroral Emission Radio Observer) and VISTA (Vector Interferometry Space Technology using AERO) missions will advance auroral radio science and radio interferometry technology. AERO is intended to qualify and validate electromagnetic vector sensor technology in space while also answering key scientific questions about the nature and sources of auroral radio emissions. These questions cannot be addressed from the ground due to shielding by the ionosphere. VISTA, together with AERO, will provide the first demonstration of interferometric imaging, beamforming, and nulling using electromagnetic vector sensors at low frequencies (100 kHz – 15 MHz) using Space based sensors.

A key component of the AERO-VISTA joint mission is the Aurora software radio system which forms the primary mission payload when combined with an electromagnetic vector sensor antenna (VSA). This radio combines the analog, digital, and signal processing necessary to detect and digitize the signals associated with the radio aurora. We provide a detailed discussion of the radio design, implementation, and performance results from early testing of our engineering model units.