Ionospheric Monitoring and Specification Utilizing Data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
Abstract
Following the November 2006 launch of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F17 spacecraft, work was begun at the University of Texas at Dallas on the development of ground software for the routine production of geophysical data records from the F 17 SSIES-3 instrument package data that is provided to UTD by the scientists at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The SSIES-3 sensors include the Retarding Potential Analyzer (RPA), the Drift Meter (OM), the Scintillation Meter (SM), the Electron Sensor (ES), and the Plasma Plate CPP). The primary accomplishment this year was the refinement of the integrated software package used to routinely convert the raw data to time-tagged geophysical parameters. A basic production level software package has been created that processes the RPA, DM, SM, and ES sensor data. The current version of this software was delivered to AFRL for implementation there. An investigation of problems with density measurements produced by the Plasma Plate has led to that sensor being disabled until ionospheric conditions change. While the RPA algorithm is functioning well, it is expected, based on past experience, that as larger volumes of data are processed further refinement will be required.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 20, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA530444
Entities
People
- P. C. Anderson
- R. A. Power
- W. R. Coley
Organizations
- University of Texas at Dallas