Coordinated Ionospheric Reconstruction CubeSat Experiment (CIRCE) Mission Update

The Coordinated Ionospheric Reconstruction Cubesat Experiment (CIRCE) is a joint US/UK effort to fly a two-satellite mission consisting of two 6U CubeSats actively maintaining a lead-follow configuration in the same low Earth orbit with a launch planned for the 2020 timeframe. These nanosatellites will each feature multiple space weather payloads. From the US, the Naval Research Laboratory will provide two 1U tiny ionospheric photometers (TIPs) on each satellite, observing the ultraviolet 135.6 nm emission of atomic oxygen at nighttime. The primary objective is to characterize the two-dimensional distribution of electrons in the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA). The methodology used to reconstruct the nighttime ionosphere employs continuous UV photometry from four distinct viewing angles in combination with an additional data source, such as in situ plasma density measurements, with advanced image space reconstruction algorithm tomography techniques. From the UK, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) will provide the In-situ & Remote Ionospheric Sensing suite consisting of an Ion/Neutral Mass Spectrometer a dual frequency GPS receiver for ionospheric sensing, and a radiation environment monitor. We present our mission concept, simulations illustrating the imaging capability of the Tri-TIP sensor suite, and a range of science questions addressable via these measurements.

Acknowledgement: This work was sponsored by the Chief of Naval Research.