SA023-14
WindCube: A CubeSat Thermospheric Wind Instrument
WindCube: A CubeSat Thermospheric Wind Instrument
Monday, 14 December 2020: 12:09
Virtual
Abstract:
The key objectives of WindCube are to understand the effects on the ionosphere and thermosphere from above, meaning solar wind
and magnetosphere, and from below, meaning lower atmosphere. The ionosphere and thermosphere are the link between outer space
and the Earth's atmosphere. Ionosphere disturbances affect communication and navigation (e.g. GPS) systems. Understanding the
solar and lower atmospheric effect on the ionosphere will lead to future forecasting capabilities.
The approach we will use to study ionosphere and thermosphere disturbances is to build and launch a 6-U CubeSat (Windcube)
to measure the thermospheric winds in conjunction with other NASA satellite observations and ground-based data sets. We will
use a remote sensing method to measure the wind induced Doppler shift in the airglow emission, which is emitted by atomic oxygen
in the thermosphere. The Doppler shift in the wavelength is about 1 in 10 millions for 10 m/s winds, hence this is a very precise
measurement, which now can be achieved with the most recent advances in CubeSat technology. WindCube will open new opportunities
and magnetosphere, and from below, meaning lower atmosphere. The ionosphere and thermosphere are the link between outer space
and the Earth's atmosphere. Ionosphere disturbances affect communication and navigation (e.g. GPS) systems. Understanding the
solar and lower atmospheric effect on the ionosphere will lead to future forecasting capabilities.
The approach we will use to study ionosphere and thermosphere disturbances is to build and launch a 6-U CubeSat (Windcube)
to measure the thermospheric winds in conjunction with other NASA satellite observations and ground-based data sets. We will
use a remote sensing method to measure the wind induced Doppler shift in the airglow emission, which is emitted by atomic oxygen
in the thermosphere. The Doppler shift in the wavelength is about 1 in 10 millions for 10 m/s winds, hence this is a very precise
measurement, which now can be achieved with the most recent advances in CubeSat technology. WindCube will open new opportunities
to space research, which were only available to much larger and more expensive satellite missions. The WindCube will allow us to
characterize changes in the thermospheric winds due to solar activities and atmospheric waves such as tides.