The Progress for China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite Project

The underlying way to promote earthquake forecasting is to develop a three-dimensional observation and data processing system. According to the requirement of earthquake monitoring, the integrative three- dimensional observation system for Earthquake Monitoring contains of Earthquake Satellite Observation System which includes electromagnetism satellite (InSAR satellite) infrared satellite and etc; and Ground- based Digital Earthquake Monitoring Network. The presented researches show that electromagnetic and ionospheric precursor monitoring is one of the most effective means of short and imminent-term earthquake prediction. Being the first step, to develop and launch a seismo-electromagnetic trail satellite to detect the scenario and effects is proposed. The science targets of the trail satellite for probing earthquake electromagnetism are: (1) to identify seismic precursory information of electromagnetism, ionosphere, high-energy particle related to strong earthquakes and to explore its regulation and mechanism; (2) to obtain world-wide data of electromagnetic field, ionosphere, high energy particle; (3) to provide sharing data for international cooperation and scientific study; (4)to validate the effectiveness and credibility of the satellite in probing into seismo-electromagnetism ionosphere. For these targets, the trail satellite concerns various physics quantity such as electromagnetic field, electromagnetic wave, ionospheric plasma, high energy particle disturbances and etc. Of course certain accuracy is required. Based on requirement for the physical parameters and requirement for measurement precision, the scientific payloads have been selected as following: Search-Coil magnetometer, Electric field detector, Fluxgate magnetometer, GPS two-frequency Receiver, Plasma analyzer, Langmuir probe, Energetic particle detector and three-frequency transmitter. The main parameters about the satellite orbit are designed as that, Altitude should be 500km; Inclination is 97.4. Ascending node time is 14 00LT, Revisiting Period should be 5 days, Life span should be larger than 3years. After the experiment of trail satellite for probing earthquake-related Electromagnetism obtaining success, research and development will be carried out on earthquake electromagnetic satellite constellation, which may have two orbits altitude as 450-500km and 900-1000km, according to the request on satellite observation system by earthquake monitoring and forecasting. And operation business of the satellite system will be promoted.