Collaborative Research: CubeSat--Composition Variations in the Exosphere, Thermosphere, and Topside Ionosphere (EXOCUBE)

合作研究：立方体卫星——外逸层、热层和上部电离层的成分变化 (EXOCUBE)

• 批准号: 1042837
• 负责人: John Noto
• 金额: $ 34.89万
• 依托单位: Scientific Solutions Incorporated
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-10-01 至 2016-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1042837&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; CubeSat; Composition; Variations

This project is for a 3U CubeSat mission named EXOCUBE to measure the densities of all significant neutral and ionized species in the upper atmosphere on a global scale. The project will provide the first in-situ global neutral density data in more than 25 years, including the first direct measurements of Hydrogen densities using the mass spectrometer technique. An important science objective for EXOCUBE is to provide observational constraints for physical models of the upper atmosphere. Additionally, the measurements will be used to test and validate newly developed experimental techniques to obtain neutral and ionized composition and densities from radar and optical observations. The EXOCUBE measurements will also be used for several immediate science investigations. Specific science questions to be addressed include: 1) the inter-hemispheric transport of Hydrogen and protons in the quiescent and storm-time exosphere, and 2) characterization of neutral atmospheric drivers in response to magnetic storms. Data for each of four neutral and ion species (O, He, H, N2, O+, He+, H+, and NO+) are gathered by a set of two Static Energy Angle Analyzers, one for Neutrals (NSEAA) and one for Ions (ISEAA), respectively. The instrument is a new design that has been developed recently through a collaboration between NASA and the Naval Research Laboratory. A third instrument, a Faraday cup, is included for calibration, reducing ion density uncertainties to approximately plus or minus 3%. The satellite will collect data in two modes. In 'patrol mode' the measurements will be made approximately every degree of longitude and in 'coordinated experimental mode' the measurements will be made every tenth of a longitude degree in conjunction with ground based radar and optical measurements. The satellite is to be launched into low Earth orbit with an inclination of greater than or equal to 45 degrees, passing over three current radar sites, and at least six optical Aeronomy sites. The EXOCUBE project is a collaboration between Scientific Solutions Inc. (SSI), California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), and The University of Wisconsin (UW). Also partnering in the effort are NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and SRI International. In addition, the project coordinates with existing NSF radar facilities and optical sites for targeted experiments during the satellite lifetime. The EXOCUBE dataset has broad utility, leading to long-awaited improvements in a wide range of physical and semi-empirical composition models for the upper atmosphere and to verification of radar and optical measurement techniques providing composition data. As such, the project will provide the foundation for a very large and diverse set of further aeronomy and space weather science investigations. Particularly, reliable knowledge of exospheric Hydrogen distribution is a crucial requirement for realistically modeling Total Electron Content, which is currently a very high priority space weather objective. Educational impacts of the project are extraordinary. The satellite bus and operating systems are designed and built by 20-40 students in the laboratories at Cal Poly, and payload integration is also performed by students at Cal Poly. Students at the University of Wisconsin are involved with instrument calibration and testing and with initial assessment of data integrity. Data formatting and archiving are also student led.

该项目是针对名为Exocube的3U立方体任务，用于在全球大气层中测量所有重要的中性和电离物种的密度。 该项目将在25年内提供第一个原位全球中性密度数据，包括使用质谱仪技术对氢密度进行的首次直接测量。 Exocube的一个重要科学目标是为高层大气的物理模型提供观察性约束。 此外，测量结果将用于测试和验证新开发的实验技术，以获得中性和电离的组成以及雷达和光学观测的密度。 埃克塞看测量值也将用于几项直接科学研究。 要解决的特定科学问题包括：1）静态和风暴时间外层中氢气和质子的半球间运输，以及2）对磁风暴的中性大气驱动因素的表征。 四种中性和离子物种中的每一个（O，He，H，N2，O+，He+，H+和NO+）的数据分别通过两种静态角度分析仪，一种用于中性（NSEAA）和一个用于离子（ISEAA）（ISEAA）。 该乐器是一种新设计，该设计是通过NASA与海军研究实验室之间的合作而开发的。 包括第三个乐器，即法拉第杯，用于校准，将离子密度不确定性降低至大约3％。 卫星将以两种模式收集数据。在“巡逻模式”中，将大约在每个经度和“协调的实验模式”中进行测量，将在经度的每十分之一中与地面基于地面的雷达和光学测量结合进行测量。 该卫星应发射到低地球轨道中，其倾斜度大于或等于45度，经过三个当前的雷达位点和至少六个光学气氛位点。 Exocube项目是Scientific Solutions Inc.（SSI），加利福尼亚理工大学（CAL POLY）和威斯康星大学（UW）之间的合作。 NASA Goddard太空飞行中心和SRI International也合作。 此外，该项目与现有的NSF雷达设施和光学位点进行协调，以实现卫星寿命。 Exocube数据集具有广泛的实用性，从而在高层大气层的各种物理和半经验组成模型中得到了期待已久的改进，并验证了提供组合数据的雷达和光学测量技术。 因此，该项目将为一系列非常多样化的空气和太空天气科学调查奠定基础。 特别是，对外层氢分布的可靠知识是对现实建模总电子含量的关键要求，这是当前非常高的优先空间天气目标。 该项目的教育影响非同寻常。卫星公共汽车和操作系统是由Cal Poly的实验室中的20-40名学生设计和建造的，并且Cal Poly的学生还执行有效载荷集成。威斯康星大学的学生参与了仪器校准和测试以及数据完整性的初步评估。 数据格式和归档也是学生LED。