The Radiation Environment Impacting DSX Orbit Options
Abstract
The Air Force Research Laboratory plans to (a) fly the Demonstrations and Science Experiment (DSX) in a medium Earth orbit (MEO) to study wave-particle interaction in the Very Low Frequency (VLF) regime, and (b) map the energetic particle and plasma environment in the middle magnetosphere. Since the initial DSX planning, interest has surfaced in mapping the energetic particle environment of the inner belt inside the MEO regime. The question arises whether the DSX orbit could be modified to accomplish sufficient inner-belt mapping without compromising the primary DSX science missions. It is concluded that the optimum orbit to map the L, B/BO region relevant to the inner belt orbits while maintaining the capability of DSX to map and carry out experiments in the slot region is a 540 x 12000km orbit with 28 degrees or less of inclination. The energetic electrons in the horns of the outer belt will be missed; however, this population has been much better characterized by existing data sets than have the populations in the inner magnetosphere. Doses for the recommended orbit are approximately an order of magnitude higher than for the nominal DSX orbit, but lower by a factor of approximately two than the worst inner belt orbit considered.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 06, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA455162
Entities
People
- G. P. Ginet
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory