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The Scintillation Prediction Observation Research Task (SPORT)

Grant number: 16/24970-7
Support Opportunities:Research Projects - Thematic Grants
Start date: December 01, 2017
End date: November 30, 2022
Field of knowledge:Engineering - Aerospace Engineering
Principal Investigator:Mangalathayil Ali Abdu
Grantee:Mangalathayil Ali Abdu
Host Institution: Divisão de Ciência da Computação (IEC). Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA). Ministério da Defesa (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
Pesquisadores principais:
Homero Santiago Maciel
Associated researchers:Alessandro José de Abreu ; Anderson Ribeiro Correia ; Brett Vern Carlson ; Charles Swenson ; Christopher Shneider Cerqueira ; Clezio Marcos de Nardin ; Helio Koiti Kuga ; Hisao Takahashi ; Inacio Malmonge Martin ; James F Spann ; Jayr de Amorim Filho ; Joaquim Eduardo Rezende Costa ; Jonas Bianchini Fulindi ; José Sérgio de Almeida ; Luís Eduardo Vergueiro Loures da Costa ; Maisa de Oliveira Terra ; Manuel Máximo Bastos Malheiro de Oliveira ; Marco Antonio Ridenti ; Maria de Fátima Mattiello-Francisco ; Marisa Roberto ; Mauricio Gonçalves Vieira Ferreira ; Nelson Jorge Schuch ; Nierlly Karinni de Almeida Maribondo Galvão ; Otavio Santos Cupertino Durão ; Polinaya Muralikrishna ; Rodrigo Savio Pessoa ; Shankar Mahalingam ; Valdemir Carrara ; Willer Gomes dos Santos
Associated research grant(s):19/22678-5 - 70th International Astronautical Congress, AR.EXT
Associated scholarship(s):19/23314-7 - Multivariate statistics applied to the SPORT mission data analysis, BE.PQ
20/11983-9 - SPORT mission: operation engineering and data evaluation, BP.TT
20/02037-2 - SPORT Project mechanical support activities, BP.TT
+ associated scholarships 19/24703-7 - SPORT project assembly, integration and verification assessment, BP.TT
19/15069-2 - SPORT project thermal and mechanical assessment, BP.TT
18/17894-8 - SPORT mission System Engineering assessment, BP.TT
18/06158-9 - Statistical Studies of the Variation of Ionospheric Parameters and Their Relationship with Space Weather Events, BP.PD
18/02042-6 - SPORT project attitude control assessment, BP.TT
18/02048-4 - SPORT project thermal and mechanical assessment, BP.TT
18/02044-9 - Sport project assembly, integration and verification assessment, BP.TT
18/02046-1 - SPORT project attitude control support activities, BP.TT
18/03754-0 - SPORT project electronic support activities, BP.TT
18/02045-5 - SPORT project embedded software assessment, BP.TT
18/02040-3 - Sport project procurement and configuration control assessment, BP.TT
18/02047-8 - SPORT project Electrical Engineering assessment, BP.TT
18/02086-3 - SPORT project safety and product assurance assessment, BP.TT
18/02041-0 - Sport project embedded software development, BP.TT - associated scholarships

Abstract

The Scintillation Prediction Observation Research Task (SPORT) international collaborative mission will advance our understanding of the nature and evolution of ionospheric structures around sunset to improve predictions of disturbances that affect radio propagation and telecommunication signals. Structure in the charged particle number density in the equatorial ionosphere can have a profound impact on the fidelity of HF, VHF and UHF radio signals that are used for ground-to-ground and space-to-ground communication and navigation. The degree to which such systems can be compromised depends in large part on the spatial distribution of the structured regions in the ionosphere and the background plasma density in which they are embedded. Plasma structures originate in the bottom side of the ionospheric layer known as the F region where they may be resident most of the time during the nighttime. However, if conditions allow the structured regions to penetrate through the bottom side F region and into and above the peak of the layer, then the plasma structures may be of sufficient magnitude to create significant perturbations in both the propagation path of radio signals as well as changes in the signal phase and amplitude, known as scintillation. Discovering the conditions under which the most detrimental effects on radio wave propagation exist remains a challenge to both our observational capability and our physical understanding. The background ionospheric conditions are conveniently described by latitudinal profiles of the plasma density at nearly constant altitude, which describe the effects of ExB drifts and neutral winds, while the appearance and growth of plasma structure requires committed observations from the ground from at least one fixed longitude. These 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. Our proposed mission will produce a coordinated set of measurements of the F-peak height and density as well as the vertical plasma motions and plasma density in the local time region from 1500 to 2400 over a magnetic latitude range from +/-30°. The advent of reliable derivation of F-peak density and height from radio occultation receivers allows these parameters, which are sensitive functions of the vertical plasma motion, to be specified from an orbiting satellite in a large range in local time and longitude around the equator. Coupled with in-situ measurements of the plasma drifts and plasma density, it is possible to tie together the local and regional behaviors described by these data sources using well-established physical links as well as powerful new machine learning techniques. With SPORT we propose to undertake such a study utilizing a simple cube-sat payload consisting of the following instruments: Langmuir impedance probe, drift meter, radio occultation sensor and a magnetometer. The mission will feature a strong collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Utah State University (USU), University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The proposed instruments will be hosted on an ITA U-class (6U) platform (based on ITASAT) launched from the ISS. This proposal covers the 6U platform and its team, the Physics Laboratory at ITA, and a supporting role for the contributed components from the American contingent of NASA USU, UAH and INPE that includes I&T, mission operations, and data collection/reduction/dissemination. Additionally, use of an extensive ground based ionospheric observational network operated by INPE at different locations in Brazil will be available. (AU)

Articles published in Agência FAPESP Newsletter about the research grant:
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VEICULO: TITULO (DATA)
VEICULO: TITULO (DATA)

Scientific publications (21)
(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)
REMPEL, ERICO L.; GOMES, TIAGO F. P.; SILVA, SUZANA S. A.; CHIAN, ABRAHAM C-L. Objective magnetic vortex detection. Physical Review E, v. 99, n. 4, . (13/07375-0, 13/26258-4, 16/24970-7)
RIDENTI, MARCO ANTONIO; DE AMORIM, JAYR; BOMFIM SILVA, CARLOS ALBERTO; VORAC, JAN; FELLOWS, CARLOS EDUARDO; VENTURA, LAIZ RODRIGUES. Statistical physics of two-temperature rotational energy distributions in stationary plasmas. Physical Review E, v. 103, n. 1, . (16/24970-7)
ABDU, M. A.; KHERANI, E. A.; SOUSASANTOS, J.. Role of Bottom-Side Density Gradient in the Development of Equatorial Plasma Bubble/Spread F Irregularities: Solar Minimum and Maximum Conditions. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS, v. 125, n. 10, . (16/24970-7, 18/06158-9)
SILVA, SUZANA S. A.; VERTH, GARY; REMPEL, ERICO L.; SHELYAG, SERGIY; SCHIAVO, LUIZ A. C. A.; FEDUN, VIKTOR. Solar Vortex Tubes. II. On the Origin of Magnetic Vortices. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, v. 915, n. 1, . (16/24970-7)
ABDU, MANGALATHAYIL ALI. Day-to-day and short-term variabilities in the equatorial plasma bubble/spread F irregularity seeding and development. PROGRESS IN EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE, v. 6, . (16/24970-7)
SOUSASANTOS, J.; ABDU, M. A.; DE PAULA, E. R.; MORAES, A. O.; SALLES, L. A.; AFFONSO, B. J.. Conjugated asymmetry of the onset and magnitude of GPS scintillation driven by the vertical plasma drift. GPS SOLUTIONS, v. 26, n. 3, p. 13-pg., . (17/50115-0, 18/06158-9, 16/24970-7)
JONAS SOUSASANTOS; LEONARDO MARINI-PEREIRA; ALISON DE OLIVEIRA MORAES; SAM PULLEN. Ground-Based Augmentation System Operation in Low Latitudes - Part 2: Space Weather, Ionospheric Behavior and Challenges. J. Aerosp. Technol. Manag., v. 13, . (16/24970-7, 18/06158-9)
ABDU, M. A.; KHERANI, E. A.; SOUSASANTOS, J.. Role of Bottom-Side Density Gradient in the Development of Equatorial Plasma Bubble/Spread F Irregularities: Solar Minimum and Maximum Conditions. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS, v. 125, n. 10, p. 15-pg., . (16/24970-7, 18/06158-9)
SOUSASANTOS, J.; ABDU, M. A.; MORAES, A. O.; VANI, B. C.; SILVA, R. P.; SOBRAL, J. H. A.. Long-lasting stagnant equatorial plasma bubble event and the related scintillation over the Brazilian region. Advances in Space Research, v. 68, n. 11, p. 4678-4690, . (17/50115-0, 16/24970-7, 18/06158-9)
RIDENTI, MARCO ANTONIO; DE AMORIM, JAYR; BOMFIM SILVA, CARLOS ALBERTO; VORAC, JAN; FELLOWS, CARLOS EDUARDO; VENTURA, LAIZ RODRIGUES. Statistical physics of two-temperature rotational energy distributions in stationary plasmas. PHYSICAL REVIEW E, v. 103, n. 1, p. 11-pg., . (16/24970-7)
MANTOVANI, LORENZZO QUEVEDO; DOS SANTOS, WILLER GOMES; CARDOSO-RIBEIRO, FLAVIO LUIZ; DA COSTA, LUIS EDUARDO VERGUEIRO LOURES. Impact of non-latching booms on a nanosatellite attitude control system. AEROSPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, v. 120, p. 13-pg., . (16/24970-7)
SANTOS, L. B. T.; SOUSA-SILVA, P. A.; TERRA, M. O.; MANI, KARTHIK V.; DE ALMEIDA, A. K., JR.; SANCHEZ, D. M.; PRADO, A. F. B. A.. Optimal transfers from Moon to L-2 halo orbit of the Earth-Moon system. Advances in Space Research, v. 70, n. 11, p. 11-pg., . (16/24561-0, 18/07377-6, 18/06966-8, 16/24970-7, 16/18418-0)
MANTOVANI, LORENZZO QUEVEDO; DOS SANTOS, WILLER GOMES; CARDOSO-RIBEIRO, FLAVIO LUIZ; DOS SANTOS, JOSUE CARDOSO. Influence of thrust modulation on a satellite with flexible non-latching booms. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, v. 44, n. 12, p. 13-pg., . (16/24970-7)
DE ABREU, A. J.; CORREIA, E.; DE JESUS, R.; VENKATESH, K.; MACHO, E. P.; ROBERTO, M.; FAGUNDES, P. R.; GENDE, M.. Statistical analysis on the ionospheric response over South American mid- and near high-latitudes during 70 intense geomagnetic storms occurred in the period of two decades. JOURNAL OF ATMOSPHERIC AND SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS, v. 245, p. 13-pg., . (16/24970-7, 19/05455-2)
SOUSASANTOS, J.; KHERANI, E. A.; SOBRAL, J. H. A.; ABDU, M. A.; MORAES, A. O.; OLIVEIRA, C. B. A.. A Numerical Study on the 3-D Approach of the Equatorial Plasma Bubble Seeded by the Prereversal Vertical Drift. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS, v. 124, n. 6, p. 4539-4555, . (16/24970-7, 18/06158-9)
LI, GUOZHU; NING, BAIQI; WANG, CHI; ABDU, M. A.; OTSUKA, YUICHI; YAMAMOTO, M.; WU, JIAN; CHEN, JINSONG. Storm-Enhanced Development of Postsunset Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Around the Meridian 120 degrees E/60 degrees W on 7-8 September 2017. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS, v. 123, n. 9, p. 7985-7998, . (16/24970-7)
SRIPATHI, S.; ABDU, M. A.; PATRA, A. K.; GHODPAGE, R. N.. Unusual Generation of Localized EPB in the Dawn Sector Triggered by a Moderate Geomagnetic Storm. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS, v. 123, n. 11, p. 9697-9710, . (16/24970-7)
SOUSASANTOS, JONAS; ABDU, MANGALATHAYIL ALI; SANTOS, ANGELA; BATISTA, INEZ; SILVA, ANDRE; LOURES, LUIS EDUARDO. Further complexities on the pre-reversal vertical drift modeling over the Brazilian region: A comparison between long-term observations and model results. JOURNAL OF SPACE WEATHER AND SPACE CLIMATE, v. 10, . (16/24970-7, 18/06158-9, 15/25357-4)
SOUSASANTOS, J.; AFFONSO, B. J.; MORAES, A.; RODRIGUES, F. S.; ABDU, M. A.; SALLES, L. A.; VANI, B. C.. Amplitude Scintillation Severity and Fading Profiles Under Alignment Between GPS Propagation Paths and Equatorial Plasma Bubbles. SPACE WEATHER-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS, v. 20, n. 11, p. 15-pg., . (16/24970-7, 17/50115-0, 18/06158-9, 06/04008-2)
SILVA, SUZANA S. A.; FEDUN, VIKTOR; VERTH, GARY; REMPEL, ERICO L.; SHELYAG, SERGIY. Solar Vortex Tubes: Vortex Dynamics in the Solar Atmosphere. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, v. 898, n. 2, . (16/24970-7)
REMPEL, ERICO L.; GOMES, TIAGO F. P.; SILVA, SUZANA S. A.; CHIAN, ABRAHAM C-L. Objective magnetic vortex detection. PHYSICAL REVIEW E, v. 99, n. 4, p. 15-pg., . (13/07375-0, 16/24970-7, 13/26258-4)