FIREFLY: A cubesat mission to study terrestrial gamma-ray flashes
Abstract
FIREFLY is small satellite mission to investigate the link between atmospheric lightning and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes scheduled to launch in late 2010. The instrumentation includes a Gamma-Ray Detector (GRD), VLF receiver, and photometer. GRD will measure the energy and arrival time of x-ray and gamma-ray photons, as well as the energetic electron flux by using a phoswitch-style layered scintillator. The current status of the instrumentation will be discussed, including laboratory tests and simulations of the GRD. FIREFLY is the second in a series of NSF-funded cubesats designed to study the upper atmosphere.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009AGUFMSM33C1577K
- Keywords:
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- 2716 MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS / Energetic particles: precipitating;
- 3304 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES / Atmospheric electricity;
- 3324 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES / Lightning;
- 7845 SPACE PLASMA PHYSICS / Particle acceleration