Collaborative Research: CubeSat: Observing Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flash (TGF) Beams With A Pair Of CubeSats

合作研究：CubeSat：用一对 CubeSat 观测地面伽马射线闪光 (TGF) 光束

• 批准号: 1445496
• 负责人: Michael Briggs
• 金额: $ 37.67万
• 依托单位: University of Alabama in Huntsville
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-08-15 至 2023-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1445496&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; CubeSat; Observing; Terrestrial

This project is to design, develop, construct, operate and analyze the results of a dual spacecraft CubeSat mission named "Terrestrial RaYs Analysis and Detection" (TRYAD). The purpose of TRYAD is to help solve the mystery of a phenomenon that's linked with lightning: terrestrial gamma rays, or TGFs. Bursts of gamma rays usually occur far out in space, near black holes and other high-energy cosmic phenomena. Scientists were surprised when, in the mid-1990s, they found strong gamma-ray flashes happening in the skies over Earth. Powerful natural particle accelerators in the atmosphere are involved in creating lightning but the exact process is not yet known. TGFs result from this particle acceleration. The specific objective of TRYAD is to observe TGFs from two separate points within their beams. All other existing and planned TGF observations are single-point. With a pair of CubeSats, therefore, TRYAD will make unique, first-of-its-kind TGF observations that are crucial for being able to distinguish between several existing models for the acceleration process that is a key part of lightning. In this way, the project will help advance the fundamental understanding of this intriguing and important phenomenon in the Earth atmosphere. Beyond its impact on lightening physics, TRYAD will pursue extensive hands-on learning and training objectives for undergraduate students at both Auburn University and University of Alabama in Huntsville. Building on the experiences from the successful, established CubeSat program at AU, the Auburn University Student Space Program (AUSSP), most of the tasks throughout the project will be carried out by student teams under the expert supervision of teams of professors at both institutions. Further, the project will be supported through for-credit classes at both universities. Students from outside AU and UAH will be offered an opportunity to participate via UAH?s existing Heliophysics Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. Likewise, CubeSat and TGF-related activities will be included in the annual Summer Student Institute for High School Students at AU, which is an effective way to attract high-achieving students into the program. The new, largely unproven technology involved in cubesat missions, inherently makes the project associated with significant risks. On the other hand, the project has tremendous potential to be transformational not only within its own research area of lightening physics but also for the larger field of space science and atmospheric research as well as within aerospace engineering and education. The purpose of the TYRAD Mission is to measure the beam profiles and tilts of TGFs in order to distinguish between various classes of TGF initiation models. The results will advance our understanding of the physical process involved in TGF particle acceleration as well as of the thunderstorm electric fields. A pair of 3U CubeSats separated by several hundred km in low Earth orbit will provide the measurements. TRYAD is a focused mission that maximizes the gamma-ray sensitivity by carrying only gamma-ray detectors. Control of the satellite separation is essential to the success of the mission and this is achieved by using ionospheric differential drag on the two satellites, actively changed through modifying the orientation of the deployed solar panels.

该项目是为了设计，开发，构建，操作和分析双航空站的结果，名为“陆地射线分析和检测”（Trinad）。 Tryad的目的是帮助解决与闪电有关的现象的奥秘：地面伽玛射线或TGF。伽马射线的爆发通常在太空中发生，在黑洞和其他高能宇宙现象附近。 当他们在1990年代中期发现在地球上天空中发生强烈的伽马射线闪光灯时，科学家感到惊讶。大气中强大的天然粒子加速器参与创建闪电，但确切的过程尚不清楚。 TGFS由这种粒子加速度产生。 Tryad的具体目的是从它们的光束内的两个单独点观察TGF。所有其他现有和计划的TGF观察都是单点。因此，使用一对立方体，Tryad将产生独特的，首先的TGF观测值，这对于能够区分几种现有的加速过程模型至关重要，这是闪电的关键部分。这样，该项目将有助于促进对地球大气中这种有趣和重要现象的基本理解。除了对闪电物理的影响之外，Tryad还将为奥本大学和亨茨维尔大学奥本大学和阿拉巴马大学的本科生提供广泛的动手学习和培训目标。 基于Au，Auburn University Student Space计划（AUSSP）的成功，建立的Cubesat计划的经验，整个项目中的大多数任务都将由学生团队在这两个机构的教授团队的专家监督下进行。此外，该项目将通过两所大学的学分课程得到支持。 来自AU和UAH以外的学生将有机会通过UAH的现有Heliophysics夏季研究经验（REU）计划参加。同样，Cubesat和与TGF相关的活动也将包括在AU的年度暑期学生研究所中，这是吸引高分学生参加该计划的有效方法。 新的，在很大程度上未经证实的技术参与了立方体任务，本质上使该项目与重大风险相关。另一方面，该项目具有巨大的潜力，不仅可以在其自身的闪电物理学研究领域内进行变革，而且还可以在更大的太空科学和大气研究领域以及航空航天工程和教育领域。泰拉德（Tyrad）任务的目的是测量TGF的梁曲线和倾斜度，以区分各种TGF启动模型。结果将提高我们对TGF颗粒加速度涉及的物理过程以及雷暴电场的理解。一对在低地球轨道上被数百公里隔开的3U立方体将提供测量。 Tryad是一个集中的任务，仅携带伽马射线检测器，可以最大程度地提高伽马射线灵敏度。卫星分离的控制对于任务的成功至关重要，这是通过在两个卫星上使用电离层差分阻力来实现的，这是通过修改已部署的太阳能电池板的方向来积极改变的。