Polar BEAR ionospheric experiments - a pre-launch overview. Technical report, 1 March-31 October 1985

Technical Report · Fri May 09 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6584126

Fremouw, E J

Polar BEAR (Polar BEacon and Auroral Research) will carry three ionospheric experiments: (1) a beacon functionally identical to that on HiLat, (2) a three-axis vector magnetometer for detecting the satellite's attitude, and (3) an improved imager, the Auroral/Ionospheric Remote Sensor (AIRS). In addition to providing images of the aurorae and airglow at four visual and vacuum-ultraviolet wavelengths, AIRS will function as an ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Using AIRS in its imaging mode and receiving stations it will be possible to obtain images of essentially the entire auroral oval in broad daylight as well as in darkness. Polar BEAR is scheduled for launch into a nearly circular orbit near 1000-km altitude and 82 inclination. That orbit will afford a broad view for AIRS and many opportunities for coordinated observations of (1) scintillation using the beacons on both HiLat and Polar BEAR, (2) major current systems flowing between the ionosphere and magnetosphere using the magnetometers on both satellites, and (3) energetic electron precipitation and ambient plasma convection at 800 km altitude as recorded with HiLat's electron spectrometer and thermal-plasma monitor. These observations should contribute to further understanding of plasma instrumental to the development of density irregularities in the highly dynamic high-latitude ionosphere.

• Research Organization: Physical Dynamics, Inc., Bellevue, WA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6584126
• Report Number(s): AD-A-176337/4/XAB; PD-NW-86-344R
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIRGLOW
AURORAE
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
DYNAMICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
IONOSPHERE
LEPTONS
MAGNETOMETERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MECHANICS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PRECIPITATION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROSCOPY