Trimetric Tomography of the Martian Ionosphere Using CubeSats

Paper number

IAC-18,B4,2,9,x47228

Author

Prof.Dr. Edgar Bering, United States, University of Houston

Coauthor

Prof. Ji Chen, United States, University of Houston

Coauthor

Prof. David Jackson, United States, University of Houston

Coauthor

Prof. Lawrence Pinsky, United States, University of Houston

Coauthor

Dr. Laila Andersson, United States, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at University of Colorado

Coauthor

Prof. James Cutler, United States, University of Michigan

Coauthor

Dr. J.P. Sheehan, United States, University of Michigan

Coauthor

Prof. Mark Moldwin, United States, University of Michigan

Coauthor

Prof. Kentaro Hara, United States, Texas A&M University

Coauthor

Prof. Mark Lemmon, United States, Texas A&M University

Coauthor

Prof. Rod Heelis, United States, University of Texas at Dallas

Coauthor

Prof. Russell Stoneback, United States, University of Texas at Dallas

Coauthor

Prof. James Forbes, Canada, McGill University

Coauthor

Mr. Thomas Heine, United States, University of Michigan

Coauthor

Dr. Paul Withers, United States, Boston University

Year

2018

Abstract

The MARSCAT Mission will be a multiple 6U CubeSat mission to study the ionosphere of Mars. The mission will investigate the plasma and magnetic structure of the Martian ionosphere, including how the ionosphere responds to solar wind dynamics, what small scale structures exist in the lower ionosphere of Mars, and what processes are responsible for the maintainance of the nighttime ionosphere. The Mars transit proposed is piggy back with a major mission, using an on-board thruster burn or a carrier burn for Mars Orbit Injection (MOI).
MARSCAT will make correlated multipoint studies of the ionosphere and magnetic field of Mars. MARSCAT will make in situ observations of the energetic particle flux, plasma density, temperature, and convection in the ionosphere of Mars. They will also make total electron content measurements along the line of sight between any two of two spacecraft. Following the successful exploration of the Mars ionosphere and its interaction with the solar wind and the crustal magnetic field of the planet, there remain several key questions, which will complete a description of the space environment of Mars. The key questions involve the transport proper-ties of the ionospheric plasma, its role in redistributing the plasma and the role of the magnetic field in modifying the plasma motions. A focus for advancing our current understanding may be obtained by addressing the following key questions. How does the ionosphere respond to solar wind dynamics? What small-scale structures exist in the lower ionosphere of Mars? What processes are responsible for the maintenance of the nighttime ionosphere? The key to advanc-ing or understanding lies in using multiple platforms to increase the temporal cadence with which a particular volume of the ionosphere can be sampled. With recent advances in small satellite capabilities it is now possible to consider the deployment of a small satellite constella-tion to accomplish this task. Suitably instrumented satellites could be carried as a secondary payload to a major Mars mission in much the same way as small CubeSat missions have been successfully conducted in low Earth orbit.

Abstract document

IAC-18,B4,2,9,x47228.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-18,B4,2,9,x47228.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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