Predicting Ionospheric Densities and Scintillation with the Communication / Navigation Outage Forecasting System

(C/NOFS) Mission

Chin S. Lin1, O. de La Beaujardière2, J. Retterer2

1 Boston College, MA 2 Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicle Directorate,

Hanscom AFB, MA

Second GPS RO Data Users’ workshop

August 2005

2

Outline

– Communication/NavigationOutage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) will provide ionosphere and scintillation forecasts

– Motivation for this paper:

• Perform pre-launch validation of models and algorithms that will be used during the C/NOFS satellite mission

• Analysis of DMSP and ROCSAT-1 satellite data prior to C/NOFS launch have improved our ability to forecast ionosphere, especially during magnetic storms

• Collaborative studies of Formosat-3/COSMIC and C/NOFS data will be very useful

The C/NOFS Satellite: 130 orbit,

375x710 km alt, 06 launch

3

Introduction

C/NOFSFirst satellite to provide continuous, global ambient ionosphere and scintillation forecasts

Mission elements• Satellite• Ground-based

instruments• Models• Data center

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The C/NOFS Satellite

+Y

-Z

+X

VEFI Trigger Probe

CERTO Antenna

VEFI Booms (6)(Shown Truncated)

Zenith ground link Tx and Receive Patch Antennas

Real time Antennas

(7, Yellow)

VEFI Magnetometer

Ram Plate w/ detectors

Double Flip Down Deployable Solar Arrays (8)

338.6 cm(133.3”)

Star Trackers

Image provided by General Dynamics C4 Systems, Spectrum Astro Space Systems

VEFI Mag

CERTO

VEFI booms

CINDI, PLP

• C/NOFS will fly vertically, the ram plate in the forward direction

• 6 Instruments:

– CORRIS: GPS receiver

– VEFI: Electric & Mag Field

– CINDI: Ion Velocity Meter (IVM ) + Neutral Wind Meter (NWM)

– CERTO: Beacon Tx)

– PLP: Plasma Langmuir Probe

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Concluding Remarks

• C/NOFS is first-ever system for continuous global scintillation forecasts

• Campaigns, ground and satellite support are essential

• C/NOFS data will be not be restricted ( ask frederick.rich@hanscom.af.mil for password)

• C/NOFS observations could improve understanding of occurrence and structures of equatorial plasma bubbles

• Collaborative studies of Formosat-3/COSMIC and C/NOFS satellite data are welcome

• NASA and NSF have set aside funds for scientific investigation with C/NOFS

Satellite System

Ground-Based Sensors

Forecast Modeling

Prototype Map