CubeSat Constellations for Measurements of High Latitude Energy Input

Geomagnetic activity is accompanied by the transfer of energy from the magnetosphere to the Lower-Thermosphere-Ionosphere region. Joule and auroral particle heating at high latitudes are two processes by which magnetospheric energy can be deposited within this region. Joule heating is believed to be the larger mechanism for energy transfer but the responsible global scale electric fields, coupling dynamics, and evolution over various spatial and temporal scales are inadequately understood. Questions such as, “What are the contributions of small-scale turbulent electric fields to the larger-scale electrodynamical processes?” or “How do the high-latitude electric fields evolve during disturbed conditions?” still remain. One approach for addressing these questions is to launch a constellation of spacecraft for in-situ observations of electric fields and other ionospheric/thermospheric parameters. We present the importance of these space weather questions and an approach for addressing them with a constellation of in-situ observations. A suitable constellation of spacecraft can be created with a single launch by distributing the spacecraft in altitude and allowing the differences in the orbital precession to create the spatial distribution. The possible size of the constellation depends upon how small the spacecraft can be made and the current capability of launch vehicles. Significant progress has been made by the small satellite community in demonstrating, on orbit, the viability of pico-satellites (1-10 kg). We propose that a large, 50 to 100, satellite constellation could be deployed to answer basic questions of how energy is transferred from the magnetosphere into the auroral Lower-Thermosphere-Ionosphere region.