Black and diffuse aurora science surveyor

We aim to explore the processes responsible for creating the optical variations observable within the diffuse aurora, specifically targeting the physics responsible for the creation of black aurora. Such processes are critical to our understanding of the how, why and when energy exchange is modulated in the coupled magnetosphere–ionosphere system. In order to study them in a meaningful way, the electron precipitation must be quantified inside regions of diffuse aurora containing black aurora. Moreover, this has to be done with high-resolution, targeting millisecond time-scales, in order to adequately capture the fine structure inherent in diffuse aurora. Therefore, an instrumented sounding rocket payload will be used to target diffuse aurora that contains black aurora. A combination of in situ precipitating electron and magnetic field measurements will be used in conjunction with high-resolution ground-based imaging of the aurora, to investigate two specific science questions: 1) What are the differences in the precipitating electron spectra (energy, flux, pitch-angle and temporal characteristics) inside and outside regions of black aurora? 2) What are the most likely physical processes responsible for generating the optical features of black aurora? The scientific questions support NASA’s Heliophysics Science Strategic Objective 1.4 “to understand the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather” from the 2014 Science Mission Directorate Science Plan by addressing key concepts of energy transport within the coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere (M-I) system, which is an important component of how energy ultimately couples from the solar wind, through the magnetosphere and down into the ionosphere and thermosphere.

Enabling lower cost innovative remote sensing instrument development from concept through breadboard and demonstration

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