Use of ultra-small space vehicles for studying near-Earth plasma by radiophysical methods


Cite item

Full Text

Abstract

The paper shows the possibility to measure plasma density and its fluctuations in the ionosphere on ultra-small space spacecraft using radiophysical methods that allow determining the characteristics of the medium through which radiation is transmitted. It is assumed that each spacecraft will have a navigational satellite receiver, as well as a device for emitting and detecting a signal at two multiple frequencies in the radio band. With this approach, information on plasma density is contained in the received phase difference. Radio receivers and radio transmitters on satellites constantly exchange radio signals and then it is possible to determine the electron concentration and its fluctuations from the phase shift. The authors obtained numerical estimates of the resulting phase difference for different frequencies from 10 MHz to 10 GHz with typical ionospheric parameters depending on the distance between the satellites. Calculations were also made to determine the maximum distance between satellites at which it is possible to receive a signal, provided that the transmitter power is 2 watts.

About the authors

D. V. Chugunin

Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: dimokch@iki.rssi.ru

Junior Researcher

Russian Federation

A. A. Chernyshov

Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: achernyshov@iki.rssi.ru

Candidate of Science (Physics and Mathematics)
Senior Researcher

Russian Federation

M. M. Mogilevsky

Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: mogilevsky2012@gmail.com

Candidate of Science (Physics and Mathematics)
Leading Researcher

Russian Federation

I. L. Moiseenko

Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: moiseenko.irine@gmail.com

Junior Researcher

Russian Federation

A. A. Petrukovich

Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: apetruko@iki.rssi.ru

Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Director

Russian Federation

References

  1. Bryunelli B.E., Namgaladze A.A. Fizika ionosfery [Physics of ionosphere]. Moscow: Nauka Publ., 1988. 528 p.
  2. Smirnov V.M. Metod monitoringa ionosfery Zemli na osnove ispol'zovaniya navigatsionnykh sputnikovykh system. Avtoreferat dis. … doktora fiziko-matematicheskikh nauk [Method of monitoring the Earth’s ionosphere based on the use of navigational satellite systems. Extended abstract of Doctoral Dissertation (Physics and Mathematics)]. Moscow, 2007. 38 p.
  3. Mandel'shtam L.I., Papaleksi N.D. Noveyshie issledovaniya rasprostraneniya radiovoln vdol' zemnoy poverkhnosti [Recent studies of the propagation of radio waves along the Earth's surface]. M.-L.: Gostekhizdat Publ., 1945. 296 p.
  4. Al'pert Ya.L. Rasprostraneniye elektromagnitnykh voln i ionosfera [Propagation of electromagnetic waves and ionosphere]. Moscow: Nauka Publ., 1972. 564 p.
  5. Yakovlev O.I., Pavel'ev A.G., Matyugov S.S. Sputnikovyy monitoring Zemli: radiozatmennyy monitoring atmosfery i ionosfery [Satellite monitoring of the Earth: radio occultation monitoring of the atmosphere and ionosphere]. Moscow: Librocom Publ., 2010. 208 p.
  6. Ungar S.G., Lusignan B.B. A two-satellite microwave occultation system for determining pressure altitude references. Journal of Applied Meteorology. 1973. V. 12, Iss. 2. P. 396-403. doi: 10.1175/1520-0450(1973)012
  7. Yakovlev O.I., Grishmanovskiy B.A., Eliseyev S.D., Kucheryavenkov A.I., Matyugov S.S. Radio sounding of the Earth’s atmosphere using two satellites. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR. 1990. V. 315, Iss. 1. P. 101-103. (In Russ.)
  8. Rangaswamy S. Recovery of atmospheric parameters from the Apollo/Soyuz-ATS-F radio occultation data. Geophysical Research Letters. 1976. V. 3, Iss. 8. P. 483-486. doi: 10.1029/GL003i008p00483
  9. Vilkov I.A, Matyugov S.S., Yakovlev O.I. Amplitude fluctuation in radio inspection of the Earth atmosphere from the satellite-satellite route. Radiotekhnika i Elektronika. 1993. V. 38, no. 5. P. 795-803. (In Russ.)
  10. Mareyev E.A., Chugunov Yu.V. Antenny v plazme [Plasma antennas]. Nizhny Novgorod: IPF AN SSSR Publ., 1991. 231 p.
  11. Chernyshov A.A., Chugunin D.V., Mogilevsky M.M., Moiseenko I.L., Ilyasov A.A., Vovchenko V.V., Pulinets S.A., Klimenko M.V., Zakharenkova I.E., Kostrov A.V., Gushchin M.E., Korobkov S.V. Approaches to studying the multiscale ionospheric structure using nanosatellites. Geomagnetism and Aeronomy. 2016. V. 56, Iss. 1. P. 72-79. doi: 10.1134/S0016793216010047
  12. Chernyshov A.A., Chugunin D.V., Mogilevsky M.M., Moiseenko I.L., Kostrov A.V., Gushchin M.E., Korobkov S.V., Yanin D.V. Study of inhomogeneous structure of the ionosphere using simultaneous measurements by nanosatellites of CubeSat standard. Izvestiya vuzov. Priborostroenie. 2016. V. 59, Iss. 6. P. 443-449. doi: 10.17586/0021-3454-2016-59-6-443-449 (In Russ.)

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML

Copyright (c) 2019 VESTNIK of Samara University. Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

This website uses cookies

You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website.

About Cookies