The Solar Mass Ejection Imager Optics and Baffles - Design and Construction

Abstract

The purpose of SMEI is a proof-of-concept of the ability to predict geomagnetic disturbances for Air Force space operations and to establish the feasibility of tracking interplanetary disturbances from the Sun to the Earth and beyond. The major subsystems of SMEI are an electronic Camera Assembly, a Data Handling Unit and interconnection harnesses. Each electronic Camera component consists of a baffle, radiator, bright object sensor, strongbox (CCD, mirrors and shutter) and electronics box. The electronic Camera Assembly is used to observe in visible light mass ejections from the Sun by sensing sunlight scattered from clouds of solar-produced interplanetary electrons. Predictions of arrival time at Earth of this disturbance can be made up to three days in advance.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 15, 2000
Accession Number
ADA398308

Entities

People

  • A. Buffington
  • B. V. Jackson
  • P. P. Hick

Organizations

  • University of California Regents

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Cameras
  • Detectors
  • Diffraction
  • Electrons
  • Light Sources
  • Linear Polarization
  • Measurement
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Scattering
  • Space Sciences
  • Spacecraft
  • Sun
  • Sunlight
  • Three Dimensional
  • Visible Spectra

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Software Engineering
  • Solar Physics

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Satellites