Journal article
The AEPEX mission: Imaging energetic particle precipitation in the atmosphere through its bremsstrahlung X-ray signatures
Advances in space research, Vol.66(1), pp.66-82
07/01/2020
DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2020.03.003
Abstract
The Atmospheric Effects of Precipitation through Energetic X-rays (AEPEX) mission is a 6U CubeSat that will monitor energetic electron precipitation from the radiation belts into the upper atmosphere. The primary instrument will image energetic (50–300 keV) X-rays produced in the atmosphere by bremsstrahlung, providing a near-direct signature of electron precipitation. An energetic electron detector will measure the precipitating electron spectrum, while the X-ray observations will be used to determine the absolute flux. X-ray images will be produced with 10-s time resolution and 50–100 km spatial resolution. The 6U spacecraft uses flight heritage spacecraft bus subsystems, including the attitude determination and control, electrical power, and command & data handling systems. AEPEX is designed to be operated from low-Earth orbit at ~500 km altitude with a high inclination in order to cover the outer radiation belt. AEPEX will be the first spacecraft mission to measure X-rays in the 50–300 keV energy range emitted by Earth’s atmosphere in response to radiation belt precipitation, and the first to image that precipitation from above.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The AEPEX mission: Imaging energetic particle precipitation in the atmosphere through its bremsstrahlung X-ray signatures
- Creators
- Robert A Marshall - Ann and H. J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, 3775 Discovery Drive, 429 UCB, Boulder, CO 80303, USAWei Xu - University of Colorado BoulderThomas Woods - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USAChristopher Cully - Department of Physics, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaAllison Jaynes - Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Iowa, 203 Van Allen Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242, USACora Randall - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USADaniel Baker - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USAMichael McCarthy - Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, 4000 15th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USAHarlan E Spence - Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire, 8 College Road, Durham, NH 03824, USAGrant Berland - Ann and H. J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, 3775 Discovery Drive, 429 UCB, Boulder, CO 80303, USAAlexandra Wold - Ann and H. J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, 3775 Discovery Drive, 429 UCB, Boulder, CO 80303, USAElliott Davis - Ann and H. J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, 3775 Discovery Drive, 429 UCB, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Advances in space research, Vol.66(1), pp.66-82
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.asr.2020.03.003
- ISSN
- 0273-1177
- eISSN
- 1879-1948
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/01/2020
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy; University College Courses
- Record Identifier
- 9984067698502771
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