The Canadian CASSIOPE Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (e-POP) for High-resolution Observations of Space Weather Processes
- Paper number
IAC-07-B4.2.06
- Author
Mr. Andrew W. Yau, University of Calgary, Canada
- Coauthor
Mr. H. Gordon James, Communications Research Centre Canada, Canada
- Year
2007
- Abstract
CASSIOPE is a Canadian small satellite scheduled for launch in summer 2008 into a polar orbit (300 x 1500 km, 80-deg inclination). The scientific objective of its Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (e-POP) payload is to make observations of mesoscale and microscale space weather processes in the topside polar ionosphere at the highest-possible resolution, specifically to study the microscale characteristics of plasma outflow and related plasma processes, the occurrence morphology of neutral escape, and the effects of auroral currents on plasma outflow and those of plasma microstructures on radio propagation. The e-POP payload will carry a suite of 8 scientific instruments, including imaging plasma and neutral particle sensors, magnetometers, dual-frequency GPS receivers, CCD cameras, a radio wave receiver and a beacon transmitter. It will utilize the large (terabyte) data storage and downlink capacity (up to 350 megabits/s and 15 gigabytes per day) available onboard from the companion CASCADE communications payload to support the planned high-resolution observations. The imaging plasma sensors will measure particle distributions and the magnetometers will measure field-aligned currents on the time scale of 10 ms and spatial scale of about 100 m. The CCD cameras will perform auroral imaging on the time scale of 100 ms. The GPS and radio-wave receivers will perform near real-time imaging studies of the ionosphere in conjunction with ground-based radars, and the beacon transmitter in conjunction with ground receiving stations. In this paper, we discuss planned investigations of plasma outflow, wave propagation, and related space weather processes using these observations.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-B4.2.06.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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