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The Scintillation Prediction Observations Research Task (SPORT): An International Science Mission using a CubeSat
Small Satellite Conference
  • James Spann, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
  • Charles Swenson, Utah State University
  • Otavio Durao, INPE
  • Luis Loures, Instituto Technologico de Aeronautica
  • Rod Heelis, University of Texas Dallas
  • Rebecca Bishop, The Aerospace Corporation
  • Guan Le, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Mangalathayil Abdu, Instituto Technologico de Aeronautica
  • Linda Krause, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
  • Craig "Ghee" Fry, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
  • Joseph Casas, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
  • Shelia Nash-Stevenson, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
  • Eric Eberly, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
  • Clezio Denardini, INPE
  • Polinaya Muralikrishana, INPE
  • Joaquim Costa, INPE
  • Marcelo Banik de Padua, INPE
  • Cristiano Wrasse, INPE
  • Lidia Shibuya, Instituto Technologico de Aeronautica
  • Bryan Mesmer, UAH
Session
Session 13: Next on the Pad 2
Abstract

The Scintillation Prediction Observations Research Task (SPORT) is a 6U CubeSat mission to address the compelling but difficult problem of understanding the preconditions leading to equatorial plasma bubbles. The scientific literature describes the preconditions in both the plasma drifts and the density profiles related to bubble formations that occur several hours later in the evening. Most of the scientific discovery has resulted from observations at a single site, within a single longitude sector, from Jicamarca, Peru. SPORT will provide a systematic study of the state of the pre-bubble conditions at all longitudes sectors to enhance understanding between geography and magnetic geometry. SPORT is an international partnership between National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE), and the Technical Aeronautics Institute under the Brazilian Air Force Command Department (DCTA/ITA), and encouraged by U.S. Southern Command. This talk will present an overview of the SPORT mission, observation strategy, and science objectives to improve predictions of ionospheric disturbances that affect radio propagation of telecommunication signals. The science goals will be accomplished by a unique combination of satellite observations from a nearly circular middle inclination orbit and the extensive operation of ground based observations from South America near the magnetic equator.

Citation Information
James Spann, Charles Swenson, Otavio Durao, Luis Loures, et al.. "The Scintillation Prediction Observations Research Task (SPORT): An International Science Mission using a CubeSat" (2017)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/bryan-mesmer/12/