Distributed space-based Ionospheric Multiple Plasma Sensor networks

Author

Balthazor, Richard L. ; McHarg, Matthew G. ; Godbold, Cash S., Jr. ; Barnhart, David J. ; Vladimirova, Tanya

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys., USAF Acad., CO

fYear

2009

fDate

7-14 March 2009

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

10

Abstract

Distributed small satellite mission concepts are emerging for commercial, scientific, and military applications requiring constellations of many hundreds of satellites. Massively distributed missions allow both simultaneous multipoint observations and significant redundancy. This paper presents an application case study based on the US Air Force Academy´s (USAFA) Ionospheric Multiple Plasma Sensors (IMPS) mission. IMPS is an integration of the satellite-on-a-Printed Circuit Board (PCBSat) miniaturization approach developed at the University of Surrey with the Miniaturized Electrostatic Analyzer (MESA) sensor developed at USAFA.

Keywords

artificial satellites; astrophysical plasma; distributed sensors; electrostatic devices; ionospheric measuring apparatus; plasma diagnostics; printed circuits; Ionospheric Multiple Plasma Sensors mission; MESA sensor; Miniaturized Electrostatic Analyzer; PCBSat miniaturization approach; US Air Force Academy; USAFA IMPS Mission; distributed sensor networks; distributed small satellite mission concepts; ionospheric plasma sensor networks; observational redundancy; printed circuit board; satellite-on-a-PCB; simultaneous multipoint observations; small satellite constellations; space based sensor networks; Backscatter; Equations; Ionosphere; Military satellites; Physics; Plasma applications; Plasma temperature; Plasma waves; Weather forecasting; Wind;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Aerospace conference, 2009 IEEE

Conference_Location

Big Sky, MT

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-2621-8

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-4244-2622-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/AERO.2009.4839357

Filename

4839357