Solar Radiation and Thermospheric Satellite

In today's world, Solar Radiation and Thermospheric Satellite has gained unprecedented relevance. Whether in the professional, academic or personal sphere, Solar Radiation and Thermospheric Satellite has become a topic of common interest for people of all ages and backgrounds. As society advances, the challenges related to Solar Radiation and Thermospheric Satellite become more complex, and the need to understand its implications becomes increasingly pressing. In this article, we will explore different aspects of Solar Radiation and Thermospheric Satellite and its impact on various areas of daily life. From its history to its current applications, we will address the many facets of Solar Radiation and Thermospheric Satellite and its influence on modern society.

Taiyo
Mission typeSolar-terrestrial research
OperatorISAS
COSPAR ID1975-014A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.7671
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerNippon Electric Company
Launch mass86 kg
Dimensions0.75 m × 0.65 m (diameter × height)
Power15 watts
Expedition
EndedJune 29, 1980
Start of mission
Launch dateFebruary 24, 1975, 05:25 UTC
RocketM-3C No. 2
Launch siteKagoshima Space Center
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth/Medium Earth
Periapsis altitude260 km
Apoapsis altitude3,140 km
Inclination31.54°
Period120 minutes

Solar Radiation and Thermospheric Satellite (SRATS), also knows as Taiyo ("Sun" in Japanese) or Shinsei-3,[1] was a space probe developed by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) at the University of Tokyo. The probe was launched on February 24, 1975, from Kagoshima Space Center by M-3C-2 rocket. Its mission was focused on upper atmospheric physics, X-ray and UV solar radiation, and the Earth's ionosphere. Taiyo completed its mission before re-entering Earth's atmosphere on June 29, 1980.[2]

The satellite had a shape of octagonal cylinder (or prism), weighing 86 kg. It orbited the Earth in an elliptical orbit with a periapsis of 260 km and an apoapsis of 3,140 km, at a 32-degree inclination. The satellite's primary goal was to investigate solar X-rays, ultraviolet radiation, and the distribution of ions and electrons in the Earth's upper atmosphere.[2][3]

Instruments

Taiyo had seven science instruments:[2]

  • Solar X-Ray Detector (SXR): Designed to observe solar X-rays in two energy ranges (5.9-9.5 keV, 9.5-11.5 keV) and measure charged particles near the Earth's radiation belts.
  • Lyman-alpha Radiation Monitor (SXU): Measured solar hydrogen Lyman-alpha radiation to study the Sun's chromosphere.
  • Geocoronal and Middle Ultraviolet Radiometers (GMV): This system combined the Middle Ultraviolet Radiometer (MUV), which measured reflected solar light from atmospheric ozone, and the Vacuum Ultraviolet Photon Counter (GUV), which analyzed geocoronal emissions.
  • Bennett Ion Mass Spectrometer (CPI): Examined ion composition in the upper atmosphere, identifying H+, He+, and O+ ions.
  • Retarding Potential Analyzer (RPA): Measured ion density and temperature using voltage sweeps across ion traps.
  • Electron Temperature Probe (TEL): Recorded electron temperature variations, capable of measuring up to 4000 K.
  • Gyro-Plasma Probe (IMP): Analyzed electron density distribution through high-frequency impedance measurements.

Further reading

  • Hirao, Kunio (1975). "The TAIYO Mission". Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity. 27 (4): 265–270. Bibcode:1975JGG....27..265H. doi:10.5636/jgg.27.265. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  • Hirao, K. (1976). "Results of observations made by the SRATS (Solar radiation and thermospheric structure) satellite". Space Research XVI; Proceedings of the Open Meetings of Working Groups on Physical Sciences, May 29-June 7, 1975, and Symposium and Workshop on Results from Coordinated Upper Atmosphere Measurement Programs, Varna, Bulgaria, May 29-31, 1975. Berlin, East Germany: Akademie-Verlag GmbH. pp. 235–240. Bibcode:1976spre.conf..235H.
  • Matsuoka, Masaru; Nagai, Fukuo; Ohki, Ken-ichiro (1975). "A solar X-ray detector aboard "TAIYO"". Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity. 27 (4): 271–277. doi:10.5636/jgg.27.271.
  • Oshio, Takanori; Masuoka, Toshio; Higashino, Ichiro; Watanabe, Norihiko (1975). "An intensity monitor for solar hydrogen Lyman-α radiation (TAIYO SXU)". Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity. 27 (4): 279–294. doi:10.5636/jgg.27.279.
  • Tohmatsu, Takao; Suzuki, Katsuhisa; Ogawa, Toshihiro (1975). "The atmospheric UV instrumentation for the satellite "TAIYO"". Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity. 27 (4): 295–301. doi:10.5636/jgg.27.295.
  • Iwamoto, Iwao; Suitz, Takeshi; Fugono, Nobuyoshi (1975). "The Bennett ion mass spectrometer aboard "TAIYO" (CPI)". Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity. 27 (4): 303–310. Bibcode:1975JGG....27..303I. doi:10.5636/jgg.27.303.
  • Miyazaki, Shigeru (1975). "The retarding potential analyzer aboard the satellite TAIYO". Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity. 27 (4): 311–320. Bibcode:1975JGG....27..311M. doi:10.5636/jgg.27.311.
  • Oyama, Koh-ichiro; Hirao, Kunio (1975). "Electron temperature probe experiments on the satellite "TAIYO"". Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity. 27 (4): 321–330. Bibcode:1975JGG....27..321O. doi:10.5636/jgg.27.321.
  • Oya, Hiroshi; Morioka, Akira (1975). "Instrumentation and observations of gyro-plasma probe installed on TAIYO for measurement of ionospheric plasma parameters and low energetic particle effects". Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity. 27 (4): 331–361. Bibcode:1975JGG....27..331O. doi:10.5636/jgg.27.331.

References

  1. ^ Darling, David. "Taiyo". www.daviddarling.info. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "DARTS for Astrophysics". DARTS at ISAS/JAXA. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  3. ^ "TAIYO | Spacecraft". ISAS. Retrieved 22 October 2024.