Collaborative Research: CubeSat: Observing Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flash (TGF) Beams With A Pair Of CubeSats

合作研究：CubeSat：用一对 CubeSat 观测地面伽马射线闪光 (TGF) 光束

• 批准号: 1445496
• 负责人: Michael Briggs
• 金额: $ 37.67万
• 依托单位: University of Alabama in Huntsville
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-08-15 至 2023-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1445496&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; CubeSat; Observing; Terrestrial

This project is to design, develop, construct, operate and analyze the results of a dual spacecraft CubeSat mission named "Terrestrial RaYs Analysis and Detection" (TRYAD). The purpose of TRYAD is to help solve the mystery of a phenomenon that's linked with lightning: terrestrial gamma rays, or TGFs. Bursts of gamma rays usually occur far out in space, near black holes and other high-energy cosmic phenomena. Scientists were surprised when, in the mid-1990s, they found strong gamma-ray flashes happening in the skies over Earth. Powerful natural particle accelerators in the atmosphere are involved in creating lightning but the exact process is not yet known. TGFs result from this particle acceleration. The specific objective of TRYAD is to observe TGFs from two separate points within their beams. All other existing and planned TGF observations are single-point. With a pair of CubeSats, therefore, TRYAD will make unique, first-of-its-kind TGF observations that are crucial for being able to distinguish between several existing models for the acceleration process that is a key part of lightning. In this way, the project will help advance the fundamental understanding of this intriguing and important phenomenon in the Earth atmosphere. Beyond its impact on lightening physics, TRYAD will pursue extensive hands-on learning and training objectives for undergraduate students at both Auburn University and University of Alabama in Huntsville. Building on the experiences from the successful, established CubeSat program at AU, the Auburn University Student Space Program (AUSSP), most of the tasks throughout the project will be carried out by student teams under the expert supervision of teams of professors at both institutions. Further, the project will be supported through for-credit classes at both universities. Students from outside AU and UAH will be offered an opportunity to participate via UAH?s existing Heliophysics Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. Likewise, CubeSat and TGF-related activities will be included in the annual Summer Student Institute for High School Students at AU, which is an effective way to attract high-achieving students into the program. The new, largely unproven technology involved in cubesat missions, inherently makes the project associated with significant risks. On the other hand, the project has tremendous potential to be transformational not only within its own research area of lightening physics but also for the larger field of space science and atmospheric research as well as within aerospace engineering and education. The purpose of the TYRAD Mission is to measure the beam profiles and tilts of TGFs in order to distinguish between various classes of TGF initiation models. The results will advance our understanding of the physical process involved in TGF particle acceleration as well as of the thunderstorm electric fields. A pair of 3U CubeSats separated by several hundred km in low Earth orbit will provide the measurements. TRYAD is a focused mission that maximizes the gamma-ray sensitivity by carrying only gamma-ray detectors. Control of the satellite separation is essential to the success of the mission and this is achieved by using ionospheric differential drag on the two satellites, actively changed through modifying the orientation of the deployed solar panels.

该项目是设计、开发、建造、运行和分析名为“地球射线分析和探测”的双航天器立方体卫星使命的结果。 TRYAD的目的是帮助解决与闪电有关的现象之谜：地球伽马射线，或TGF。伽马射线爆发通常发生在遥远的太空中，靠近黑洞和其他高能宇宙现象。 20世纪90年代中期，科学家们惊讶地发现地球上空发生了强烈的伽马射线闪光。大气中强大的自然粒子加速器参与了闪电的产生，但确切的过程尚不清楚。TGFs由这种粒子加速产生。 TRYAD的具体目标是从其光束内的两个独立点观察TGF。所有其他现有和计划的TGF观测均为单点观测。因此，有了一对立方体卫星，TRYAD将进行独特的、首创的TGF观测，这对于区分加速过程的几个现有模型至关重要，而加速过程是闪电的关键部分。通过这种方式，该项目将有助于推进对地球大气层中这一有趣而重要的现象的基本理解。除了对闪电物理学的影响外，TRYAD还将为亨茨维尔的奥本大学和亚拉巴马大学的本科生提供广泛的实践学习和培训目标。 奥本大学学生空间方案（AUSSP）借鉴了Au成功建立的立方体卫星方案的经验，整个项目的大部分任务将由学生小组在两个机构的教授小组的专家监督下进行。此外，该项目将通过两所大学的学分课程得到支持。 来自Au和UAH以外的学生将有机会通过UAH参加？现有的太阳物理学夏季研究经验的本科生（REU）计划。同样，CubeSat和TGF相关活动将被列入Au高中生年度暑期学生研究所，这是吸引成绩优异的学生参加该计划的有效途径。 立方体卫星任务所涉及的新技术基本上未经证实，这本身就使该项目与重大风险联系在一起。另一方面，该项目具有巨大的潜力，不仅在其自身的照明物理学研究领域，而且在更大的空间科学和大气研究领域以及航空航天工程和教育领域都具有变革性。TYRAD使命的目的是测量TGF的光束轮廓和倾斜，以区分不同类别的TGF引发模型。这些结果将促进我们对TGF粒子加速以及雷暴电场的物理过程的理解。一对在低地球轨道上相距数百公里的3U立方体卫星将提供测量。TRYAD是一个重点明确的使命，通过只携带伽马射线探测器来最大限度地提高伽马射线灵敏度。卫星分离的控制对于使命的成功至关重要，这是通过利用两颗卫星上的电离层差异阻力来实现的，通过修改所部署的太阳能电池板的方向来主动改变差异阻力。