MRI: Acquisition of Multi-Constellation Multi-Frequency Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Data Collection Arrays for Low Latitude Ionospheric Effects Studies

美国全球定位系统（GPS）的巨大效用导致了我们的社会？中国、俄罗斯和欧盟等世界经济大国对精确定位和授时服务的依赖日益增加，全球导航卫星系统（GNSS）出现了多个星座。到2023年，将有160多颗导航卫星从它们的中地球轨道（MEO）发射400多个信号。这些跨电离层无线电信号具有明确的开放信号结构和分布的全球覆盖范围，将为我们的空间环境的被动感知和科学研究提供前所未有的机会。然而，有效和高效地利用GNSS信号和系统来准确表征大气特性存在巨大挑战。该合同的目标是获得6个多星座、多波段全球导航卫星系统（GNSS）宽带数据收集系统，用于电离层现象的被动遥感。该设备将部署在Jicamarca电离层射电天文台（JIRO）和Arecibo天文台（AO），与现有的GNSS设备形成间隔接收器阵列，以支持五个领域的研究活动：(1)赤道电离层不规则形成和演化机制以及等离子体动力学研究；(2)高功率无线电波对电离层修正效应的诊断；(3)高分辨率电离层总电子含量（TEC）和TEC梯度制图；(4)电离层对无线电波传播的影响；(5)开发先进的GNSS接收机算法，以确保在物理和电磁具有挑战性的环境中导航。该项目将有助于增进对空间环境和电离层过程的了解，并有助于开发下一代卫星导航技术。该仪器还将在通过电离层研究和GNSS工程项目加强大学本科和研究生教育方面发挥重要作用，加强大学和机构之间的合作关系，并支持正在进行的外联工作。设备收集的数据将用于GNSS信号处理和大气科学类项目的本科和研究生的上层课程，在高年级的顶峰项目，并支持研究生论文和博士后研究。处理后的测量结果将在网上公布，以提高公众对大气现象和卫星导航技术进展的认识。

The great utility of the US Global Positioning System (GPS) has led to our society?s increased dependency on precise positioning and timing services and the emergence of multiple constellations of GNSS from world economic powers such as China, Russia, and the European Union. By 2023, there will be more than 160 navigation satellites beaming over 400 signals from their medium Earth orbits (MEO). With their well-defined open signal structures and distributed global coverage, these trans-ionosphere radio signals will offer unprecedented opportunities for passive sensing and scientific study of our space environment. There are, however, enormous challenges to effectively and efficiently utilize GNSS signals and systems to accurately characterize atmospheric properties. The objective of this award is to acquire six units of multi-constellation, multi-band global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) wideband data collection systems for passive remote sensing of ionospheric phenomena. The equipment will be deployed at the Jicamarca Ionospheric Radio Observatory (JIRO) and the Arecibo Observatory (AO) to form spaced receiver arrays with existing GNSS setups to support research activities in five areas: (1) equatorial ionospheric irregularity formation and evolution mechanisms and plasma dynamics studies; (2) diagnostics of high power radio wave modification effects on ionosphere; (3) high resolution ionospheric total electron content (TEC) and TEC gradients mapping; (4) ionospheric effects on radio wave propagation; (5) development of advanced GNSS receiver algorithms for assured navigation in physically and electromagnetically challenging environments. This project will help to advance understanding of the space environment and ionosphere processes and aid the development of the next generation of satellite navigation technology. The instrument will also play an important role in enhancing undergraduate and graduate education at universities with programs in ionospheric research and GNSS engineering, strengthen collaborative relationships among universities and institutions, and support on-going outreach efforts. Data collected by the equipment will be used in GNSS signal processing and atmospheric science class projects for upper-level undergraduate and graduate level courses, in senior capstone projects, and to support graduate thesis and post-doctoral research. Processed measurements will be published online to increase public awareness of atmospheric phenomena and the advancements taking place in satellite navigation technologies.