Kiruna, 2003-11-06
PRESS RELEASE
From Kiruna, Ireland and China into space
- Chinese satellite instrument calibrated in Stockholm
Scientists from Sverige, Ireland and
China collaborate on the
satellite instrument NUADU. Photo: Manne Siegbahn
Laboratory
Last week a team of scientists from Space Technology Ireland, Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, and Center for Space Science and Applied Research, Beijing, China gathered at Manne Siegbahn Laboratory in Stockholm to calibrate the NUADU instrument (Neutral Atom Detection Unit). NUADU will be launched in June 2004 on-board the Polar satellite of the Chinese Double Star mission. The Double Star mission developed at the Center for Space Science and Applied Research in Beijing consists of two satellites, the Equatorial and Polar, to be launched on two different orbits to investigate processes in the Earth's magnetosphere, an "ocean" of plasma defining space weather in the vicinity of our planet. The "motions" or disturbances of the magnetosphere are spectacularly displayed as auroras but can also be harmful for technological societies causing block-out of electrical nets or damages of satellites. NUADU can visualize motions of invisible plasmas constituting the magnetosphere through detection of energetic neutral atoms originated from the plasma interaction with the neutral gas surrounding our planet.
"The experiment is a continuation of our research in the area of remote diagnostic of the magnetospheric plasmas which we started with the very successful PIPPI experiment (Prelude in Planetary Particle Imaging) on board the Swedish microsatellite Astrid-1 in 1995. PIPPI was the first - ever experiment dedicated to image energetic neutral atoms in the magnetosphere. With PIPPI we have done it even before the US launched a dedicated mission to do it! &endash; says Prof. Stas Barabash at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics in Kiruna, NUADU Co- Principle Investigator.
"With NUADU we will not only plan to obtain qualitatively new data but also pave the way for cooperation with China, a new major player on the scene of space research"
Double Star is prepared in close cooperation with ESA (European Space Agency) and is intended to gather data together with the ESA Cluster mission, which is in orbit already for 3 years. Beside NUADU a number of other European groups developed instruments for this mission.
During calibrations at Manne Siegbahn Laboratory in Stockholm NUADU was exposed to beams of energetic neutral atoms generated in the RING facility. This is already the second time when the Swedish Institute of Space Physics in Kiruna uses this unique accelerator used for atomic physics research to calibrate space instruments. The successful NUADU calibrations are a true example of international and interdisciplinary research when scientists from different countries, continents, and fields get together to perform cutting-edge research.
Satellite instrument NUADU (Neutral Atom
Detection Unit)
More information:
Professor Stas Barabash, Swedish Institute of Space Physics, tel. +46-980-79122, stas@irf.se
Rick McGregor, Information Officer, IRF, tel. +46-980-79178, rick@irf.se
Web pages:
IRF: www.irf.se
Double Star: www.esa.int/science/doublestar, sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=70
NUADU: sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=33153&fbodylongid=1123, physics.mff.cuni.cz/kevf/conference/abstr-list.php?id=13
Webmaster@irf.se, 2003-11-06