A Science Mission for QSAT Project: Study of FACs in the Polar and Equatorial Regions |
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Authors: | Akiko Fujimoto Tamiki Ueno Kiyohumi Yumoto |
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Institution: | 1. Space and Earth Electromagnetism Laboratory, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan 2. Space Environment Research Center, Kyushu University 53, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan
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Abstract: | Kyushu University, Kyushu Institute of Technology and Fukuoka Institute of Technology are now designing, developing and building a micro-satellite called “QSAT”. The primary objective of QSAT is understanding the mechanism of spacecraft charging, which can be achieved with the onboard magnetometer, high-frequency probe (HP) and Langmuir probe (LP). The magnetometer measures the magnetic field variations caused by field-aligned currents (FACs) in the polar and equatorial regions. Polar FACs are well understood, while equatorial FACs are not. The science goals are as follows: (1) to better understand FACs in the polar region, (2) to compare the FACs observed in orbit with ground-based MAGDAS observations, (3) to investigate spatial distribution of FACs in the equatorial region. FACs play a crucial role in the coupling between solar wind, magnetosphere and ionosphere in terms of energy transfer. Also if we understand the relationship between the space and ground-based FACs data, then we can conduct long-term study on the solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling in the future by mainly using data from ground-based magnetometer arrays. |
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