ESWW11 - Session

Session - Space based observing systems

Alain Hilgers, Terry Onsager

Space based observations are required to satisfy many of the space weather service user needs. Defining, deploying and maintaining an observing systems satisfying all identified user needs are enormous tasks requiring potentially a large amount of resources. Various strategies have been adopted by the different space weather programmes in place and many new opportunities arise with the development of new programmes. Papers are sought on topics including, but not limited to, lessons learned from past and current space weather observing systems, possible new concepts and strategies, future needs and opportunities, and international collaborations.

Talks
Monday November 17, 15:30-17:30, room Mosane

Poster Viewing
Monday November 17, 17:30-18:00, area in front of Mosane

Talks

Oral - invited	3:30 pm	Inventory and evaluation of space weather instruments: progress and challenges of the WMO “OSCAR” tool
		Jerome, Lafeuille¹; Hilgers, Alain²
		¹WMO; ²ESA
		With the goal to provide an easy reference for users of space-based observations, and to support gap analysis and global coordination and planning of future observation systems, the World Meteorological Organization has developed an openly available resource called the Observing System Capability Analysis and Review tool (OSCAR), which is available on line: http://www.wmo.int/oscar. OSCAR is comprised of a repository of observation requirements, an inventory of satellite instruments and satellites, and an indication of the variables that the instruments have the potential to measure. An additional module on surface-based observations is also planned. The space-based capabilities can be consulted at http://www.wmo.int/oscar/space. A “quick search” window and multiple active links are making the use of OSCAR fairly intuitive, thus providing direct access to a wealth of technical and programmatic information. OSCAR attracts in average around 5,000 visits per month and has already been referenced in various studies related to Earth Observation. OSCAR/space was initially focused on instruments for weather and climate monitoring. It has been recently extended to space weather instruments, with the support of the Inter-programme Coordination Team on Space Weather (ICTSW). It currently contains references of 878 instruments, including 300 instruments for space weather, which are grouped in six broad types: • Solar processes monitors (102 instruments), • Solar wind and cosmic ray radiation monitors (32 instruments), • Magnetosphere/ionosphere sounders (91 instruments), • Aurora imagers (10 instruments) • Platform environment monitors (50 instruments), • GNSS radio-occultation receivers (15 instruments). The most original feature of OSCAR is the mapping of instruments with the variables they measure. Reciprocally, this mapping provides a list of most relevant instruments for any of the required variables, thereby providing a starting point for a gap analysis. Based on a classification of instruments, this approach yields meaningful results for Earth Observation instruments. Applying the same approach to space weather instruments raises however specific challenges. The presentation will introduce to the use of OSCAR and describe the particular challenges of evaluation of instruments for space weather observations. It will discuss a possible way forward to further improve the relevance of this evaluation, and opportunities for collaboration on this topic.
Oral - invited	3:45 pm	Development and flight of space weather instruments for the ESA SSA programme
		Jiggens, Piers¹; Hilgers, Alain¹; Luntama, Juha-Pekka¹; Glover, Alexi¹; Moulin, Serge¹; Petteri, Nieminen¹; Daly, Eamonn¹
		¹ESA
		The ESA Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme Space Weather (SWE) segment has a large number and wide variety of measurement products required to deliver data and provide services for users in the eight identified user domains. While some of the measurements may be made adequately from the ground a great many require instrumentation in space. Studies have been undertaken by industry to investigate the possibilities for flying suitable instruments on-board spacecraft as hosted payloads and to explore the required dedicated platforms to accommodate instruments which are not suitable to be flown as hosted payloads. Necessary technology developments to develop instruments for operational space weather use are also being performed by industrial partners as part of ESA's Technology Research Programme (TRP) and General Support Technology Programme (GSTP). Often these developments focus on the reduction of mass, volume and power resources with respect to science-class instruments while requiring constant operation for at least 10 years lifetime in space. Here we present the space-based measurement requirements identified, the latest status of ESA studies concerning space weather instruments for SSA and the output of parallel architecture studies which will influence the future of the SSA SWE space segment.
Oral - invited	4:00 pm	Comparative Study of Highly Elliptical Orbits for Continuous Observation of Polar Regions
		Trichtchenko, L¹; Trishchenko, A¹; Nikitina, L¹; Garand, L²
		¹Natural Resources Canada; ²Environment Canada
		The current concept of Earth observations from space relies on the combination of geostationary (GEO) and polar Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites. The GEO satellites can provide continuous coverage of the tropics and mid-latitude zones up to 60 degrees, while the imaging of the regions poleward of 60 degrees relies on the LEO constellations. Recently, the Highly Elliptical Orbits with high inclination (Molniya, Tundra, 16-hours Three Apogee (TAP) orbit and others) have attracted significant interest for their ability to provide continuous views of the Earth Polar Regions. This valuable feature has been used for many years for communication and other applications, such as surveillance, but not for the operational meteorological imaging. The World Meteorological Organisation has identified satellite HEO system as a way to close the existing observational gaps over Polar Regions in the future satellite component of the Global Observing System (GOS). The paper presents the extensive analysis of the several HEO orbits in terms of spatial and temporal coverage, viewing geometry and space environment. The assessment of space environment is analysed in details to determine contribution of various components to the total ionizing dose, required shielding and some other effects. Combined analyses of all these factors provide the optimal ranges for the orbital parameters, and the optimal candidate orbits for HEO mission are suggested.
Oral - invited	4:15 pm	Design Drivers for Space Weather Satellite Missions to L1 and Outside of Sun-Earth Line
		Pailer, N¹; Ergenzinger, K²; Kummer, U²
		¹Astrium GmbH; ²Airbus D&S
		In the context of CO-II and SN-II several space weather missions have been studied by Airbus D&S. Mission analysis, instrument identification and positioning, S/C configuration, and ground segment structure have been investigated. For the missions to L1 and outside of the Sun-Earth line we present the main design drivers, alternative design concepts and the main tasks for evolving from science missions to operational missions.
Oral - invited	4:30 pm	An Innovative, Small Mission Concept for Solar and Heliospheric Science from the L5 Location
		Lavraud, B¹; Liu, Y²; Harrison, R³; Liu, W⁴; Auchere, F⁵; Gan, W-Q⁶; Lamy, P⁷; Xia, L⁸; Eastwood, J⁹; Wimmer-Schweingruber, R¹⁰; Zong, Q¹¹; Maksimovic, M¹²; Temmer, M¹³; Escoubet, P¹⁴; Kilpua, E¹⁵; Rouillard, A¹⁶; Davies, J³; Vial, J-C⁵; Gopalswamy, N¹⁷; Bale, S¹⁸; Li, G¹⁹; Howard, T²⁰; DeForrest, C²⁰
		¹IRAP/CNRS; ²NSSC; ³RAL; ⁴NSSC; ⁵IAS; ⁶PMO; ⁷LAM; ⁸Shandong University; ⁹Imperial College; ¹⁰Kiel University; ¹¹Peking University; ¹²LESIA; ¹³Graz University; ¹⁴ESA; ¹⁵Helsinki University; ¹⁶IRAP; ¹⁷GSFC; ¹⁸Berkeley; ¹⁹University of Alabama; ²⁰SWRI
		We will present both the science objectives and related instrumentation of a small solar and heliospheric mission concept, to be submitted as an opportunity to the upcoming ESA-China S-class mission call later this year. This concept was conceived to allow innovative measurements and unprecedented, early determination of key properties of Earthbound CMEs from the L5 vantage point. Innovative measurements will include magnetic field determination in the corona thanks to Hanle measurement in Lyman-α and polarized heliospheric imaging for accurate determination of CME trajectories. With complementary in situ measurements, it will uniquely permit 1) Solar Storm Science, 2) Solar Storm Surveillance, and 3) Synergy with Solar Orbiter and Solar Probe Plus (the ESA-China S2 mission launch is planned in 2021).
Oral - invited	4:45 pm	Solar Ultraviolet Variability Influence on Ozone and Climate: the SUMO Nanosatellite Proposal
		Damé, L¹; Meftah, M¹; Irbah, A¹; Hauchecorne, A¹; Sarkissian, A¹; Keckhut, P¹; Godin-Beekmann, S²; Dewitte, S³
		¹LATMOS/IPSL/CNRS/UVSQ
		SUMO (Solar Ultraviolet Monitor and Ozone) is an innovative proof-of-concept nano-satellite which aims to measure on the same platform the different components of the Earth radiation budget, the solar energy input and the energy reemitted at the top of the Earth atmosphere, with a particular focus on the UV part of the spectrum and on the ozone layer, which are the most sensitive to the solar variability. The far UV (FUV) is the only wavelength band with energy absorbed in the high atmosphere (stratosphere), in the ozone (Herzberg continuum, 200–220 nm) and oxygen bands, and its high variability is most probably at the origin of a climate influence (UV affects stratospheric dynamics and temperatures, altering interplanetary waves and weather patterns both poleward and downward to the lower stratosphere and tropopause regions). Recent measurements at the time of the last solar minimum suggest that variations in the UV may be larger than previously assumed what implies a very different response in both stratospheric ozone and temperature. A simultaneous observation of the incoming FUV and of the ozone (O3) production, would bring an invaluable information on this process of solar-climate forcing. Space instruments have already measured the different components of the Earth radiative budget but this is, to our knowledge, the first time that all instruments are operated on the same platform. This characteristic guarantees by itself obtaining original scientific results. SUMO is a 10x10x30 cm3 nanosatellite ("3U"), the payload occupying "1U", i.e. a cube of 10x10x10 cm3 for 1 kg and 1 W of power. Orbit is polar since a further challenge in understanding the relation between solar UV variability and stratospheric ozone on arctic and antarctic regions. SUMO definition has been completed (platform and payload assembly integration and tests are possible in 24 months) and it is now intended to be proposed to CNES for a flight in 2017. Mission is expected to last up to 1 year. Follow-up is 2 fold: on one part a more complete set of measurements is possible by integrating SUMO miniaturized instruments on a larger satellite (e.g. on the SUITS microsatellite mission: Solar Ultraviolet Influence on Troposphere/Stratosphere, to be proposed to ESA); on the other part it is particularly advantageous to increase the coverage in local time and latitude using a constellation of SUMO nanosatellites around the Earth.
Oral - invited	5:00 pm	Future Plans for Space Weather Observations – U.S. NOAA Perspective
		Onsager, Terry
		NOAA/NWS/Space Weather Prediction Center
		Providing space weather services requires a comprehensive network of real-time observations, both space based and ground based, and the utilization of these observations in numerical models. The network of observations used by the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center includes missions dedicated for operational needs as well as numerous missions that are primarily for research. Although many of the observational assets used by NOAA are U.S. missions, there is also an important reliance on international contributions. As numerical modeling capabilities mature and as observing assets become increasingly available, an emphasis will need to be placed on developing new data assimilation capabilities to utilize fully the available observations. In this presentation, the observing plans of NOAA will be summarized as well as efforts to coordinate internationally and to utilize observations in numerical models.
Oral - invited	5:15 pm	A Governance-Driven Solution for a European Space Weather Monitoring System
		Salado, Alejandro¹; Mezger, Andreas¹; Kemmerle, Kurt¹; Meyer , Jan-Christian²; Grasso, Alessandro²; Olsen, Ole Morten³; Stefan , Hofer⁴; Keil , Ralf⁵
		¹Kayser-Threde GmbH; ²OHB System AG; ³Kongsberg Spacetec; ⁴Kayser-Threde GmbH; ⁵etamax space GmbH
		As part of the SSA Preparatory Programme Kayser-Threde and its industrial partners are performing an architectural design of the Space Weather segment of a future European SSA system based on a set of customer and system requirements generated in previous activities. In a first phase a set of candidate architectures was established using a 4-element conceptual design framework in order to cope with the high complexity of such a system of systems: (1) Tradespace exploration, (2) Morphological boxes, (3) Normalisation of key requirements, and (4) Architectural patterns. With this approach, the solution space was populated with thousands of potential solutions, which enabled to find optimal regions using the concept of Pareto frontiers. Three options within the Pareto front were selected for further study. Each of the three architectures relied on a constellation of satellites performing measurements at low Earth orbits, GEO, L1 and L5, together with a ground-based network of sensors that is currently considered to be identical for all options. In a second phase, the concept of governance was employed to drive the definition of the actual system implementation, mimicking to some extent how non-space systems of systems are actually developed, implemented, deployed, and operated in real life. This approach was key in order to incorporate effectively and in a realistic manner programmatic and implementation aspects within the study, that are critical for the successful deployment of such a system of systems. This paper presents the results of the study and provides recommendations for future activities in the definition of space weather monitoring systems.

Posters

1	Poster	EUV Solar Imager for Operations (ESIO)
		Thibert, T¹; Denis, F¹; Nicula, B²; Hermans, A¹; Jacobs, J¹; Jamotton, P¹; Mazy, E¹; Actis, D¹; Dalibot, C¹; Gillis, J-M¹; Jacques, L¹; Rossi, L¹; Simar, J-F¹; Ben Moussa, A²; Dolla, L²; Dominique, M²; Rodriguez, L²; Zhukov, A²; Berghmans, D²; Renotte, E¹; Jiggens, P³; Hilgers, A³
		¹Centre Spatial de Liège (CSL); ²Royal Observatory of Brussels (ROB ³European Space Agency (ESA)
		[INTRODUCTION] A small, lightweight solar EUV telescope and total solar UV flux monitor for monitoring and forecasting of space weather phenomena is currently developed under ESA General Support Technology Programme jointly by the Centre Spatial de Liège (CSL) and the Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB). The name of the instrument is EUV Imager for Operations (ESIO). ESIO is intended to provide solar EUV images for operational use as part of the ESA SSA (Space Situational Awareness) programme. Several EUV imaging telescopes have been and are developed for scientific solar spacecraft, e.g. SOHO/EIT, TRACE, Proba-2/SWAP, STEREO/SECCHI-EUVI, SOLAR ORBITER/EUI. Previous studies have shown that the resolution provided by state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation is not needed for space weather monitoring and forecasting. The resulting reduced requirements facilitate a reduction in mass, dimensions, power, and downlink data rate. However, near real-time space weather services have stronger requirements on the timeliness of data delivery for warnings and alerts. [TELESCOPE] The imager provides full-disk images of the solar transition region and corona to 1.6 solar radii, as seen from Earth orbit or L1. The bandpass is centered on 19.5nm (Al filter), for good overall contrast and flare line. The imager optical concept is based on an off-axis Newton telescope including an additional flat fold, leading to a very compact design fitting in a shoebox, with a telescope length of 25cm for a focal length of 343mm. The 512x512 pixels CMOS imager has sufficient resolution to observe all coronal space weather events and features, in association with a baseline cadence of one image every two minutes: coronal holes, active region and global structure, on-disc and off-limb eruptions, filament activation, active region dynamics, flare location, etc. The solar flux monitor integrates full-Sun radiometric measurements in the EUV range (Zr filter) with redundancy for in-flight re-calibration and Lyman-alpha line (121.6nm). [ELECTRONICS] Besides the instrument front end driving the EUV imager and photosensors, the ESIO instrument control unit provides not only telecommand and telemetry functions, interface with spacecraft and power conditioning, but, most importantly, data handling and processing capabilities. To this end the control unit includes a compact flight computer with SPARC-V8 architecture running a LEON3 processor. The target reductions in mass and power made the development of the electronics particularly challenging. [SOFTWARE] The scope of the on-board software is multifaceted and consists of, non-exhaustively, data handling for the saturation of the allocated bandwidth, data processing to improve the achievable compression ratios, the compression system itself, and feature detection for data flagging and autonomous acquisition commands. [AUTONOMOUS OPERATION] The processing power onboard ESIO allows autonomous operation of the instrument between downlink passes, for instance by triggering different modes of operation according to the solar activity (quiet sun, active sun, major event) in order to reduce the telemetry rate under normal operation while allowing higher time resolution during periods of high activity. [DEVELOPMENT] The ESIO project evolves towards TRL 4, with prototyping activities being carried out before continuation with a future phase C/D targeting a specific mission.
2	Poster	Development of a New Radiation Sensor for Satellite Missions
		Ritter, B¹; Berger, T¹; Aeckerlein, J¹; Marsalek, K¹; Hauslage, J¹; Müller, H¹; Reitz, G¹
		¹German Aerospace Center
		The RAMIS (RAdiation Measurements In Space) experiment aims to measure solar energetic particles (SEPs), trapped radiation as well as galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) with energy deposition ranging from minimal ionizing protons up to relativistic iron nuclei. The radiation detector uses two silicon detectors, each with an active area of 0.5 cm² that are arranged in a telescope configuration. The experiment will fly in 2016 on the first mission of the newly developed DLR (German Aerospace Center) Compact Satellite, which intends to provide an easy accessible platform for scientific research within DLR as well as for international partners and their experiments. As the satellite has a polar orbit at an altitude of about 600 km, valuable insights are gained not only in the GCR component of the radiation field and in SEPs in case of solar events, but also on the trapped radiation in the horns of the electron belts. Particle fluxes are to be monitored and energy deposition spectra in dependence of the solar activity will be recorded. From the latter energy transfer spectra are generated, which allow an assessment of the quality of the radiation field. The RAMIS experiment consists of two small silicon detector telescopes. One telescope is located outside on top of the satellite, while the other telescope is placed inside next to the primary payload of the satellite, the Eu:CROPIS experiment, a combined self-sustained biological life support system. The obtained data can be used for benchmarking and improvement of radiation belt models as well as of shielding models by combining the results of both telescopes. In addition, RAMIS will serve as an onboard and real-time radiation exposure information system for the Eu:CROPIS experiment and the whole satellite. Furthermore the long term flight is used to test an easy-to-implement radiation detector system for satellites that can provide crucial information on the radiation exposure for the electronics of satellite systems by serving scientific purposes due to its huge dynamic range and the telescope configuration.
3	Poster	Next Generation Space Weather Monitoring Missions
		Trichas, M
		Airbus Defence and Space
		In the advent of SOHO, ACE and STEREO end of operational lifetime, the ability to monitor hazardous space weather events will be greatly reduced. The launch of DSCOVR in 2015, as the replacement of ACE, although essential, will not be able to compensate the early warning and alerting abilities of SOHO and STEREO, in case the latter become inoperable. In order to retain the capacity to monitor space weather, space-borne systems in L1/L4/L5 are essential. We will be presenting the various space weather monitoring mission concepts we have studied , as part of the ESA SSA programme, our internal R&D, FP7 and potentially H2020 (as part of the SafeSpace team). Utilizing the experience we gained by priming Solar Orbiter, SOHO and Cluster we have focused mainly on L4/L5 concepts but also Cluster-like concepts at various scales and orbits in an effort to cover the full Sun-Earth environment.
4	Poster	What to do for Monitoring the Solar EUV ?
		Cessateur, G¹; Dudok de Wit, T²; Lilensten, J³; Kretzschmar, M²; Gyo, M¹; BenMoussa, A⁴; Schmutz, W¹
		¹PMOD/WRC; ²LPC2E, Université d'Orléans; ³IPAG, CNRS; ⁴ROB, STCE
		Although measurements and modeling of the solar irradiance were under close attention during the last decade thanks to numerous space-based observations, the complete picture of the solar variability and its impact on climate is still far from being clear. We focus here on the solar EUV flux, which is the main energy source for planetary thermospheres, from moons to planets, and then one of major parameter for space weather purposes. Today, most models still rely on solar proxies (e.g. the F10.7 radio index) to account for the solar input, but none of them is able to capture the salient features of the solar EUV flux variability. There is no alternative to direct observations of the solar EUV flux when it comes to modelling precisely its impact on the upper atmosphere. We propose here an instrument, based on a radiometer design, capable of delivering the full EUV spectrum with adequate spectral resolution using the combination of two spectral bands only. Indeed, owing to the remarkable coherency of the solar EUV spectral variability, statistical analyses have shown that two spectral bands are enough for reconstructing the solar UV spectrum with a relative error of about 20%. Using redundant channels to prevent any degradation issues, this new generation of radiometer is optimized for low mass and low power consumption, and then perfectly adapted for planetary missions or nano-satellites.
5	Poster	SUITS: A Solar-Terrestrial Space Weather & Climate Investigation
		Damé, L¹; Hauchecorne, A¹; Meftah, M¹; Irbah, A¹; Keckhut, P¹; Sarkissian, A¹; Marchand, M¹; Bekki, S¹; Quémerais, E¹; Huret, N²; Kretzschmar, M²; Cessateur, G³; Schmutz, W³; Dewitte, S⁴; Fang, C⁵; Shapiro, A³; Gan, W⁶; Chang, Jin⁶; Liu, S⁶; Cui, X⁷; Zhu, Y-T⁷; Zhang, H⁸; Deng, Y⁸; Kariyappa, R⁹
		¹LATMOS/IPSL/CNRS/UVSQ; ²LPC2E; ³PMOD/WRC; ⁴IRMB; ⁵Nanjing University; ⁶Purple Mountain Observatory; ⁷NIAOT; ⁸NAOC Beijing Observatory; ⁹Indian Institute of Astrophysics
		Space Weather observations rely largely on solar missions that are not dedicated to them. With the SUITS (Solar Ultraviolet Influence on Troposphere/Stratosphere) microsatellite mission we propose an affordable but yet direct mean to obtain essential observations. The SUITS investigation for space weather early forecasting of major flares and CMEs and the complete monitoring of the ultraviolet solar variability influence on climate encompasses three major scientific objectives: (1) Space Weather including the prediction and detection of major eruptions and coronal mass ejections (using Lyman-Alpha and Herzberg continuum imaging and H-Alpha ground support); (2) solar forcing on the climate through radiation and their interactions with the local stratosphere (UV spectral irradiance from 180 to 400 nm by bands of 10 to 20 nm, including ozone, plus Lyman-Alpha and the CN bandhead); (3) simultaneous local radiative budget of the Earth, UV to IR, with an accuracy better than 1% in differential. The mission is on a sun-synchronous polar orbit and proposes 5 instruments to the model payload: SUAVE (Solar Ultraviolet Advanced Variability Experiment), an optimized telescope for FUV (Lyman-Alpha) and MUV (200–220 nm Herzberg continuum) imaging (sources of variability); UPR (Ultraviolet Passband Radiometers), with 64 UV filter radiometers; a vector magnetometer; thermal plasma measurements and Langmuir probes; and a total and spectral solar irradiance and Earth radiative budget ensemble (SERB, Solar irradiance & Earth Radiative Budget). SUITS is proposed as a small mission to CNES and to ESA for a possible flight as early as 2020–2021. With opening to Chinese collaboration (ESA-CAS S2 Small Mission) and the possible use of the CNES Myriade Evolutions platform, two further instruments could be added (HEBS, High Energy Burst Spectrometers) to reinforce Space Weather flares prediction objectives, and a dual ultraviolet spectrograph (DUS) for solar and atmospheric variability measurements between 180 and 340 nm.
6	Poster	Characterisation of near-Earth Magnetic Field Data for Space Weather Monitoring
		Shu, Q
		University of Glasgow
		Space weather monitoring and early storm detection can be used to mitigate risk in sensitive technological systems. With the aim of better characterising the electromagnetic environment around the Earth, we develop spatio-temporal statistical models of the near-Earth magnetic field utilising in situ magnetic field data. Our ultimate goal is to identify the signatures of storm onsets in different locations in the magnetosphere that could be identified by satellite networks to detect and predict storm events. Initially, analysis of magnetic field data from the Cluster satellites during 6 pre-defined storm periods is performed, with the aim of characterising the variation in space and time, as well as detecting change points related to different current regions in the Earth’s magnetosphere. Statistical approaches used included B-splines to capture the complex mean features, and GARCH (general autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic) models to capture the stochastic model components due to the non-stationary properties of the time series. Initial results show that the magnetic field data in storm periods exhibit complex and rapid changes as the satellites enter and leave the ring current region, and that there is a strong temporal residual auto-correlation. This paper will show the results of our continuing analysis and comparisons with the statistical properties of magnetic field data under non-storm conditions.