ISINGLASS: 2016
Investigation Title: ISINGLASS (Ionospheric Structuring: In Situ and Groundbased Low Altitude Studies)
The upcoming ISINGLASS sounding rocket mission (February 2017, Poker Flat Rocket Range, Alaska) will sample multiple locations simultaneously in the auroral ionosphere to take gradient measurements of plasma parameters. Two identical rockets will be flown into two separate events (ie, quiet early evening arc vs dynamic rayed arc); each rocket has a large subpayload, and four small deployable payloads.
The in situ measurements of plasma parameters at multiple locations will be stitched together using ground based measurements and data assimilation to produce a localized map of plasma parameters and gradients. The information gained in this process is also being applied to a CubeSat swarm concept to sample the aurora via localized multipoint measurements on orbital spacecraft. The multipoint measurements of auroral ionosphere are made using the PIP (Petite Ion Probe) retarding potential analyser sensor. The PIPs are carried by 4 deployable payloads known as Bobs. The Bob payloads are ejected from the main payload using springs. Each Bob payload contains an Arduino and associated shield board as a spacecraft bus, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for attitude information, 2 PIP sensors, a rechargeable battery pack for power, an LED beacon package, and a crossed-dipole antenna for transmission of data back to the main payload. Data from the separable payloads is transmitted back to the Bob-mains onboard the main payload, which capture the data from the ejectables via the DNT 900 radio link, and pass the data to the main payload TM. In addition, six PIPs will also be located on the main payload, and their data will be passed to Wallops TM through onboard Arduinos and shields. The main payload also carries a precipitation sensor Acute Precipitating Electron Spectrometer (APES), a scientific magnetometer, and a thermal electron plasma sensor, Electron Retarding Potential Analyzer (ERPA).
A significant ground-based sensor array, including the use of PFISR, and a modelling/assimilation analysis, complete the mission. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Kristina Lynch/Dartmouth College.
Small Rockets Campaign: 2015
Investigation Title: ISINGLASS (Ionospheric Structuring: In Situ and Groundbased Low Altitude Studies)
The upcoming ISINGLASS sounding rocket mission will sample multiple locations simultaneously in the auroral ionosphere to take gradient measurements of plasma parameters. This mission builds on the previous MICA mission as well as the testing done by the Dartmouth GreenCube group for the development of the multi-point sensorcraft. In addition to the design and fabrication of the many payloads for this mission, the primary instrument (Petite Ion Probe) must be calibrated. This will build on the work from Lisa Fisher done in the ELEPHANT chamber. Once the data have been acquired, a method of interpretation is needed as well. Simply interpolating sample data often yields subpar results, therefore an assimilation tool is needed which allows the data to be assimilated in the context of other information such as ground camera data of the visible aurora nearby the rockets. The information gained in this process is also being applied to a CubeSat swarm concept to sample the aurora via localized multipoint measurements on orbital spacecraft.
Small Rockets Campaign: 2012-13
Investigation Title: Sounding rocket payload systems for in-situ measurement of ionosphere-thermosphere structure at small spatial scales
Principal investigator and institution: Mark Conde, UAF/GI A sequence of small (large amateur-class) rockets to be launched from Poker Flat for technology development of the deployment of an array of small payloads from a deployer vehicle. Dartmouth will be providing Arduino-based electronics for the deployables to measure their position, attitude, and acceleration; and will investigate the use of 900MHz “DNT” radio systems for local communications.
Green Cube
Investigation Title: Green Cube
The undergraduates in the JPL-sponsored GreenCube project of the Lynch Rocket Lab, are developing a CubeSat-class autonomous sensor payload, which they fly on balloons across New Hampshire and this spring will be floating in an array down the Connecticut (and other) River(s). “Cubesat” is a small satellite prototype established by CalPoly and Stanford Universities. Similar satellites have been used by many other universities and student satellite programs because of its relatively easy and inexpensive design. Our 3UCubeSat payloads fly on bursting balloons that reach approximately 90,000 ft. in the air before falling back to earth with a parachute. The total flight takes approximately two hours. We have flown 6 such flights across NH so far. This spring we will be floating an array of 20 Arduino-based GPS-enabled GreenCube payloads down rivers to study river transport of large woody debris, an important parameter in geography studies of fluvial morphology and of recent importance in Vermont given the damage done by Hurricane Irene last year.
MICA Campaign – February 2012
Investigation Title: MICA: Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling in the Alfvén Resonator
Principal Investigator Institution: Cornell
Launched February 18 2012 from Poker Flat, Alaska.
RENU Campaign – November 2010
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Investigation Title: RENU: Rocket Experiment for Neutral Upwelling Visit the RENU page for more! Principal Investigator and Institutions: Marc Lessard, UNH Launched in 2010 from Andoya, Norway, over the EISCAT Svalbard radar.
RENU Payload |
Cascades-2: Launched!!
Visit the Cascades-2 pages for more!
Investigation Title: The Changing Aurora: In Situ and Camera Analysis of Dynamic Electron Precipitation Structures
Photo by Robert Michell
Principal Investigator and Institutions: Kristina Lynch, Dartmouth College
Co-institutions: Cornell, UNH, UAF/GI
Cascades-2 flew from Poker in 2009.
Scifer-2 Launch – January 2008
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Investigation Title: SCIFER-2: Sounding of the Cusp Ion Fountain Energization Region-2 Visit the Scifer-2 page for more! The picture above shows the trajectory of the Scifer-2 rocket over Svalbard. Principal Investigator and Institutions: Paul M. Kintner, Jr., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Launched in 2008 from Norway over the EISCAT radar. |
Image constructed by Scott Hesh, NSROC |
ROPA Data Analysis
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Investigation Title: ROPA: Rocket Observations of Pulsating Aurora The picture shows the launch of the ROPA rocket on February 12, 2007. Visit the ROPA pages to see data analysis progress, and to follow progress of launch campaign. Principal Investigator and Institutions: Marc Lessard, UNH Launched in 2007 at Poker Flat, Alaska. |
Picture taken by Scott Hesh, NSROC |
DUST project successfully launched!
Investigation Title: DustOrions, a study of mesospheric meteoric dust layers
Principal Investigator and Instituions: Kristina Lynch (Dartmouth College); Co-Is Lynette Gelinas (Cornell), Richard Collins (UAF/GI)
Co-investigators and Institutions: Lynette Gelinas (Cornell), Richard Collins (UAF/GI)
Was launched March 2005 at Poker Flat. The DustDetector was flown again in February 2008 on the HotPay2 flight from Andoya, Norway, and in July 2008 on the ECOMA Project, also from Andoya.