The outer radiation belt injection, transport, acceleration and loss satellite (ORBITALS): A proposed canadian small satellite mission for ILWS

I. R. Mann, S. Beaudette, L. G. Ozeke, T. M. Loto'aniu, Z. C. Dent, P. Harrison, J. F. Thibault, D. McCabe, V. Wehrle, R. Fedosejevs, D. Knudsen, D. K. Milling, A. W. Yau, K. Balmain, D. N. Baker, B. Blake, J. Fennell, L. Kistler, X. Li, T. P. O'BrienJ. Wygant

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The Outer Radiation Belt Injection, Transport, Acceleration, and Loss Satellite (ORBITALS) is a Canadian Space Agency small satellite mission proposed as a Canadian contribution to the satellite infrastructure for the International Living With a Star (ILWS) program. Planned to operate contemporaneously with the NASA Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP), the ORBITALS will monitor the energetic electron and ion populations in the inner magnetosphere across a wide range of energies (keV to tens of MeV) as well as the dynamic electric and magnetic fields, waves, and cold plasma environment which govern the injection, transport, acceleration and loss of these energetic and space weather critical particle populations in the inner magnetosphere. Currently in a CSA funded Phase A Design Study, the ORBITALS will be launched into a 12 hour low-inclination geosynchronous transfer like-orbit which maximizes the long lasting apogee-pass conjunctions with both the ground-based instruments of the Canadian Geospace Monitoring (CGSM) array as well as with the GOES East and West and geosynchronous communications satellites in the North American sector. Specifically, the ORBITALS will target understanding the physical acceleration, transport and loss processes controlling the dynamics of the Van Allen belts. The ORBITALS will provide raw radiation measurements at medium Earth orbit (MEO) altitudes which will contribute to the development of the next-generation of radiation belt specification models. On-board experiments will also monitor the dose, single event upset, and deep-dielectric charging responses of electronic components onorbit. In this paper some details of the mission goals, mission specification, and the instrument payload required to operate in the harsh radiation environment in the inner magnetosphere are presented. The expected ORBITALS mission radiation exposure, and the benefits of coordinated and contemporaneous operation of multiple satellites in the inner magnetosphere during ILWS, are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationFuture Perspectives of Space Plasma and Particle Instrumentation and International Collaborations - Proceedings of the International Conference
Pages146-156
Number of pages11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
EventInternational Conference on Future Perspectives of Space Plasma and Particle Instrumentation and International Collaborations - Tokyo, Japan
Duration: Nov 1 2006Nov 3 2006

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume1144
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Other

OtherInternational Conference on Future Perspectives of Space Plasma and Particle Instrumentation and International Collaborations
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityTokyo
Period11/1/0611/3/06

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The outer radiation belt injection, transport, acceleration and loss satellite (ORBITALS): A proposed canadian small satellite mission for ILWS'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this