Recent HiLat results
Abstract
The Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) HiLat Satellite was launched on 27 June 1983 for the purpose of studying the development and dynamics of F-layer irregularities between the plasmapause and the pole. In a circular 800-km orbit at 82 inclination, it carries (1) a coherent radio beacon for measuring complex-signal scintillation and TEC, (2) a three-instrument thermal-plasma experiment consisting of a Langmuiare probe (debilitated on launch), a retarding-potential analyzer (RPA), and an ion drift meter; (3) an energetic-electron spectrometer operating between 20 ev and 20 kev, (4) a three-axis fluxgate magnetometer, and (5) an optical package consisting of a vacuum-ultraviolet (vuv) imaging spectrophometer (failed after collecting forty orbits of data) and two visible-wavelength telephotometers. All instruments other than the Langmuire probe and the vuv imager continue to operate reliably. To date, HiLat has returned the following three specific observations of note: first auroral image in full daylight, most intense field-aligned current flowing into the ionsophere, and energy-dispersed electron precipitation impulses with about a one-second periodicity. These observations and on-going analyses of HiLat's bulk data base are summarized.
- Publication:
-
In AGARD Propagation Effects on Military Systems in the High Latitude Region 14 p (SEE N86-27531 18-32
- Pub Date:
- November 1985
- Bibcode:
- 1985pems.agarQ....F
- Keywords:
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- Artificial Satellites;
- Electron Density (Concentration);
- Electron Precipitation;
- Electrostatic Probes;
- F Region;
- Magnetometers;
- Scintillation;
- Spectrophotometers;
- Telephotometry;
- Auroras;
- Data Bases;
- Field Aligned Currents;
- Magnetic Poles;
- Plasmapause;
- Radio Beacons;
- Satellite-Borne Instruments;
- Communications and Radar