Triple magnesium ionospheric photometer (Tri-MIP) instrument overview

Andrew C. Nicholas; Kenneth F. Dymond; Scott A. Budzien; Andrew W. Stephan; Bruce A. Fritz; Charles M. Brown; Ted T. Finne

doi:10.1117/12.2594905

2 August 2021 Triple magnesium ionospheric photometer (Tri-MIP) instrument overview

Andrew C. Nicholas, Kenneth F. Dymond, Scott A. Budzien, Andrew W. Stephan, Bruce A. Fritz, Charles M. Brown, Ted T. Finne

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11832, CubeSats and SmallSats for Remote Sensing V; 118320A (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2594905
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2021, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Metal atoms and ions are deposited into the Earth’s Upper Atmosphere and Ionosphere via meteor ablation. The neutral atoms can undergo charge exchange with extant O⁺, O₂⁺, and N₂⁺ ions to become metallic ions. Metallic ions have lifetimes of several days in the ionosphere, allowing vertical wind shear to compress them into thin, dense layers that subsequently produce Sporadic-E propagation of HF radio signals. The Triple Magnesium Ionospheric Photometer (Tri-MIP) instrument was developed by the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to observe airglow emissions from magnesium ions (Mg⁺) in the Earth’s atmosphere and measure global-scale Mg⁺ density from orbit as a proxy for the metallic ion population. This CubeSat compatible Space Weather sensor is a 1U ionospheric photometer that observes the ultraviolet 280 nm fluorescent emission of Mg⁺ on the sunlit portion of the orbit. The primary objective is to characterize the Mg⁺ distribution in the Earth’s atmosphere. We present the Tri-MIP instrument concept, laboratory measurements, and upcoming mission concepts.

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Citation Download Citation

Andrew C. Nicholas, Kenneth F. Dymond, Scott A. Budzien, Andrew W. Stephan, Bruce A. Fritz, Charles M. Brown, and Ted T. Finne "Triple magnesium ionospheric photometer (Tri-MIP) instrument overview", Proc. SPIE 11832, CubeSats and SmallSats for Remote Sensing V, 118320A (2 August 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2594905

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