Scintillation Prediction Observations Research Task (SPORT) (SPORT)

The Scintillation Prediction Observations Research Task (SPORT) will make progress on the very compelling but difficult problem of understanding preconditions leading to equatorial plasma bubbles. These ionospheric structures have been observed for decades. They are the primary source of radar reflections in the equatorial F-region ionosphere and cause strong scintillations on radio signals passing through them. The relationships between background ionospheric conditions and the irregularity regions, which may influence their growth to high altitudes are poorly understood. SPORT will address two specific questions about these phenomena: (1) What is the state of the ionosphere that gives rise to the growth of plasma bubbles that extend into and above the F-peak at different longitudes? (2) How are plasma irregularities at satellite altitudes related to the radio scintillations observed passing through these regions? Much has been discovered about what conditions, or state, of the ionosphere typically precedes equatorial plasma bubbles. Signatures in both the density profiles and the plasma drifts are related with some confidence to the resulting formation of plasma bubbles several hours later in the evening. Much of this scientific discovery has come from the Jicamarca Radio Observatory, a single site, within a single longitude sector. What is needed now is a systematic study of the state of the pre-bubble conditions at all longitude sectors. We have developed a focused mission to address our science questions using both in situ and radio occultation sensors on a CubeSat augmented by ground instruments in the Brazilian sector. A satellite in a mid-inclination orbit using both of these types of observations can probe the ionospheric state in a given longitude sector and then examine that same sector later in the evening for the development of plasma bubbles and scintillations. Ground-based observations of both the state of the ionosphere and scintillations of RF signals will complete the dataset required for this study. SPORT's exceptionally capable team will answer these questions by (1) developing and launching a CubeSat observatory to measure key phenomena, (2) leveraging data from existing Brazilian ground observation networks, (3) collecting, analyzing, and distributing resultant geophysical data and analysis tools, (4) integrating relevant data/analysis into scientific presentations addressing the posed science questions. SPORT is an international partnership between NASA, the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE), and the Technical Aeronautics Institute under the Brazilian Air Force Command Department (DCTA/ITA). SPORT has strong leadership in key positions, clarity in roles and responsibilities, and clean simple interfaces between institutions. NASA is overseeing the flight instruments and the launch to orbit; the Brazilian partners are contributing the spacecraft, observatory integration and test, ground observation networks, and mission operations and data management. The science data will be distributed from and archived at the INPE/EMBRACE regional space-weather forecasting center in Brazil, and mirrored at the NASA GSFC Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF). 

Support NASA's Heliophysics strategic science objectives to understand the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather. This will be achieved by developing/demonstrating instrumentation technology necessary to address the following science goals: Explore the physical processes in the space environment from the Sun to the Earth and throughout the solar system; Advance our understanding of the connections that link the Sun, the Earth, planetary space environments, and the outer reaches of our solar system; Develop the knowledge and capability to detect and predict extreme conditions in space to protect life and society and to safeguard human and robotic explorers beyond Earth.

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