Journal article
MagneToRE: Mapping the 3-D Magnetic Structure of the Solar Wind Using a Large Constellation of Nanosatellites
Frontiers in astronomy and space sciences, Vol.8, 665885
07/29/2021
DOI: 10.3389/fspas.2021.665885
Abstract
Unlike the vast majority of astrophysical plasmas, the solar wind is accessible to spacecraft, which for decades have carried in-situ instruments for directly measuring its particles and fields. Though such measurements provide precise and detailed information, a single spacecraft on its own cannot disentangle spatial and temporal fluctuations. Even a modest constellation of in-situ spacecraft, though capable of characterizing fluctuations at one or more scales, cannot fully determine the plasma's 3-D structure. We describe here a concept for a new mission, the Magnetic Topology Reconstruction Explorer (MagneToRE), that would comprise a large constellation of in-situ spacecraft and would, for the first time, enable 3-D maps to be reconstructed of the solar wind's dynamic magnetic structure. Each of these nanosatellites would be based on the CubeSat form-factor and carry a compact fluxgate magnetometer. A larger spacecraft would deploy these smaller ones and also serve as their telemetry link to the ground and as a host for ancillary scientific instruments. Such an ambitious mission would be feasible under typical funding constraints thanks to advances in the miniaturization of spacecraft and instruments and breakthroughs in data science and machine learning.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- MagneToRE: Mapping the 3-D Magnetic Structure of the Solar Wind Using a Large Constellation of Nanosatellites
- Creators
- Bennett A. Maruca - University of DelawareJeffersson A. Agudelo Rueda - University College LondonRiddhi Bandyopadhyay - Princeton UniversityFederica B. Bianco - University of DelawareAlexandros Chasapis - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsRohit Chhiber - University of DelawareHaley DeWeese - University of DelawareWilliam H. Matthaeus - University of DelawareDavid M. Miles - University of IowaRamiz A. Qudsi - Boston UniversityMichael J. Richardson - University of DelawareSergio Servidio - University of CalabriaMichael A. Shay - University of DelawareDavid Sundkvist - University of California, BerkeleyDaniel Verscharen - University of New HampshireSarah K. Vines - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryJoseph H. Westlake - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryRobert T. Wicks - Northumbria University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in astronomy and space sciences, Vol.8, 665885
- DOI
- 10.3389/fspas.2021.665885
- ISSN
- 2296-987X
- eISSN
- 2296-987X
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media Sa
- Number of pages
- 16
- Grant note
- 80NSSC18K1648 / NASA HSR grant ST/P003826/1 / STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) European Space Agency's Networking/Partnership Initiative (NPI) programme 80NSSC19K0491; 80GSFC18C0008; 80NSSC18K1293; 80NSSC20K1842; NNG04EB99C / NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) 776262 / European Union; European Commission ICETEX ST/V006320/1 / STFC Consolidated Grant; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) 1931435; ATM-0739864; ATM-1420184 / NSF; National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/29/2021
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984429043902771
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