RAPID: Adding Energetic Particle and Magnetic Field Measurements to a Russian University Satellite Mission

这是为期一年的努力，目的是开发和交付一套仪器，其中包括一个通量门磁强计(FGM)、一个高能电子粒子探测器(EPDE)和一个高能质子离子探测器(EPDI)，它将在即将到来的莫斯科国立大学(MSU)卫星Lomonosov上飞行。这次合作的主要科学目标是更好地了解将高能粒子散布到大气中的机制。该项目将对以前的卫星飞行任务尚未完成的沉淀电子和离子的能谱进行准确测量。Lomonosov计划于2011年底发射进入低地球近极轨道，这是观察沉淀到大气中的电子和离子的理想选择。该项目的近地测量将补充现有和即将进行的任务(如NASA辐射带风暴探测器任务)在赤道附近捕获的辐射带粒子的测量。这些测量将有助于量化主要的粒子加速和损失机制，这决定了辐射带的动态演化。这些测量还将用于量化近地辐射环境全球预测模型的损失。对大气中粒子沉降率的了解将有助于增进对气球携带的仪器经常观测到的X射线爆发的理解，这种爆发被认为与相对论电子沉淀有关。密歇根州立大学和加州大学洛杉矶分校的学生培训是该项目的一个重要方面。加州大学洛杉矶分校的学生将参与将要提供的粒子和场组件的制造、测试和校准。与密歇根州立大学的合作允许对新仪器和硬件进行飞行测试，预计这些测试将对NSF和NASA未来的任务非常有益。

This is a one-year effort to develop and deliver an instrument package consisting of a Flux Gate Magnetometer (FGM), an Energetic Particle Detector for Electrons (EPDE), and an Energetic Proton Detector for Ions (EPDI), which will be flown on the upcoming Moscow State University (MSU) satellite Lomonosov. The main scientific objective of this collaboration is to better understand the mechanisms responsible for scattering energetic particles into the atmosphere. The project will provide accurate measurements of the energy spectrum of precipitating electrons and ions that have not yet been accomplished by previous satellite missions. Lomonosov is planned to launch in late 2011 into a low-Earth, near-polar orbit, which is ideal for observing electrons and ions precipitating into the atmosphere. The near-Earth measurements from the project will complement measurements of trapped radiation belt particles near the Equator from existing and upcoming missions, such as the NASA Radiation Belt Storms Probe mission. Together these measurements will help quantify the dominant particle acceleration and loss mechanisms, which determines the dynamical evolution of the radiation belts. The measurements will also be used to quantify losses for global predictive models of the near-Earth radiation environment. Knowledge of particle precipitation rates to the atmosphere will help advance the understanding of X-ray bursts frequently observed by balloon-borne instruments, which are thought to be associated with relativistic electron precipitation. Student training both at MSU and UCLA is an important aspect of the project. UCLA students will be involved in the fabrication, testing, and calibration of the particle and field package to be provided. This collaboration with MSU allows for an in-flight test on new instruments and hardware that are expected to be highly beneficial to future NSF and NASA missions.