TRICE-2 Rocket Observations in the Low-Altitude Cusp: Boundaries and Comparisons With Models

S. M. Petrinec; C. A. Kletzing; S. R. Bounds; S. A. Fuselier; K. J. Trattner; R. P. Sawyer

doi:10.1029/2022JA030952

Back

TRICE-2 Rocket Observations in the Low-Altitude Cusp: Boundaries and Comparisons With Models

Journal article

Peer reviewed

TRICE-2 Rocket Observations in the Low-Altitude Cusp: Boundaries and Comparisons With Models

S. M. Petrinec, C. A. Kletzing, S. R. Bounds, S. A. Fuselier, K. J. Trattner and R. P. Sawyer

Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.128(3), e2022JA030952

03/01/2023

DOI: 10.1029/2022JA030952

View Online

Abstract

The launch of the Twin Rockets to Investigate Cusp Electrodynamics-2 (TRICE-2) took place on the morning of 08 December 2018. The two rockets of this campaign each sampled the low-altitude Northern Hemisphere cusp region at approximately the apex of each rocket's trajectory (1,042 and 757 km for the High flyer and Low flyer, respectively). Ion and electron electrostatic analyzers (ESAs) on board each rocket measured in situ particle populations throughout the flights. Energy-flux spectrograms of ions and electrons from each ESA clearly show the passage of each rocket through the cusp region. This work examines the locations of these entrance/exit points in relation to cusp models as provided in and compiled from the published literature, along with a discussion of model variables that have been optimized to best fit the cusp region boundary sampling locations by TRICE-2. The results of this study set the stage for understanding the upcoming NASA Small Explorer Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites orbital plane intersections with (i.e., "trajectory cuts" through) the cusp region.

Physical Sciences

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: TRICE-2 Rocket Observations in the Low-Altitude Cusp: Boundaries and Comparisons With Models
Creators: S. M. Petrinec - Lockheed Martin (United States)
C. A. Kletzing - University of Iowa
S. R. Bounds - University of Iowa
S. A. Fuselier - Southwest Research Institute
K. J. Trattner - University of Colorado Boulder
R. P. Sawyer - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.128(3), e2022JA030952
DOI: 10.1029/2022JA030952
ISSN: 2169-9380
eISSN: 2169-9402
Publisher: Amer Geophysical Union
Number of pages: 16
Grant note: 499935Q; NNG04EB99C / NASA MMS 80NSSC19K0849; 80NSSC20K0688 / NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) 499935Q / NASA MMS subcontract NNX15AL08G / TRICE-2 mission Grant
Language: English
Date published: 03/01/2023
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984442210702771

Metrics

5 Record Views