H. Singer, R. Viereck, T. Onsager, L. Matheson, and D. Speich NOAA Space Environment Center

1. Geosynchronous Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES): Space Environment Monitor GPS GOES 8 Proton Flux L1 L2 103 Ionosphere > 10 MeV GPS Receiver USA ESA Particles/(cm2 s sr) 101 Japan Alert Threshold 10-1 Hubble Satellites: GOES 8 (Launch: 4/13/94, Operational) GOES 9 (Launch: 5/23/95, On-orbit storage) (Launch: 4/25/97, Operational) GOES 11 (Launch: 5/15/00, Post-Launch Testing) GOES M (in queue) GOES N-Q (HSC in production) GOES 10 3 hours Solar X-ray Sensor H. Singer, R. Viereck, T. Onsager, L. Matheson, and D. Speich NOAA Space Environment Center • Utility of the GOES XRS • XRS continues to provide the primary standard for solar flare magnitude • Used by both NOAA/SEC and the Air Force 55th Weather Squadron • Real-time XRS data provides the first indications of solar flare activity • Forecast Alerts and Warnings are sent out based on the initial XRS observation of a flare. • - Alerts and Warnings are sent when XRS sees flux of >M5.0 and >X1.0 • The XRS data is used to produce the “Radio-Blackout” NOAA Scale • GOES x-ray data will be expanded greatly with the addition of the Solar X-ray Imager (SXI) on GOES M • New XRS Products Abstract: Since their inception in the 1970's, the GOES satellites have monitored the sources of space weather on the sun and the effects of space weather at Earth. The Space Environment Monitor (SEM) package on GOES monitors: solar X-rays, solar energetic particles, magnetospheric energetic particles, galactic cosmic rays, and Earth's magnetic field. These measurements are important for providing alerts and warnings to many customers, including satellite operators, the power utilities, and NASA's human activities in space. Some of these data also form the basis for our new NOAA Space Weather Scales. GOES SEM data are among the most widely used spacecraft data sets by the national and international research community. Satellite Environment as Defined by GOES Solar Proton Prediction Product: http://sec.noaa.gov/~sgreer/gprot/index.html Magnetometer GOES Utility of the GOES Magnetometer • Detecting magnetopause crossings • Alerting customers to solar wind shocks or sudden impulses • Assessing the level of geomagnetic activity • Distinguishing among different sources of energetic particle events • Developing techniques for new operational applications • Providing data to NGDC for archives and the scientific community • Real-time data to the US Air Force 55th Space Weather Squadron • Supporting rocket launch decisions and other real-time activities • Conducting research for understanding the space environment Solar Wind Shock Impact and Magnetopause Crossings at Geosynchronous Orbit During magnetopause crossings spacecraft encounter magnetic fields that can be directed opposite to what is normally expected. These conditions can have undesirable effects on spacecraft that use torquer currents as part of their attitude control and momentum management. The plasma surrounding the spacecraft has a higher density when the spacecraft moves outside the magnetosphere. Space Environment Monitor • Space Environment Monitor (SEM) • Energetic Particle Sensor (EPS): Monitors the electrons, protons, and alpha particles fluxes • Electrons: 0.6 > 4.0 MeV • Protons: 0.8 > 700 MeV, • Alpha Particles: 4 > 3400 MeV • Magnetometer (MAG): Monitors the vector magnetic field • Sample Rate: 0.512 second • Sensitivity ~0.1 nT • Range+/- 1000 nT • X-Ray Sensor (XRS): Monitors whole-Sun x-ray brightness in two bands • Channel 1: 0.5 - 4 Angstroms • Channel 2: 1 - 8 Angstroms Future of GOES • GOES NOPQ • SEC Involvement in the Next Generation of GOES Spacecraft • Define requirements and instrument specifications • Support and participate in procurement process • Provide technical advice to NOAA, NASA, HSC • - design reviews and test reviews, etc • Participate in technical interchange meetings • - lead and host magnetometer review • Participate in weekly SEM telecons • Provide expertise and participate in working group • - e.g. communications, contamination • Develop data processing, display, validation, dissemination, and products • - major changes from previous series Satellite Status Energetic Particle Sensors Utility of the GOES EPS/ HEPAD GOES Energetic Electron and Proton Measurements: • Serve as basis for real-time Alerts and Warnings of hazardous environmental conditions; • Allow rapid assessment of spacecraft anomalies; • Provide assessment of conditions hazardous to humans in space; • Provide long-term database of environmental conditions; • Are distributed in real-time to US Air Force Space Weather Services • EPS/HEPAD data are used to produce the “Radiation Storm” NOAA Scale GOES NOPQ Improvements Region of Frequent Satellite Anomalies Dawn • Energetic Particle Sensor (EPS) • Multi-directional Proton and Electron Measurements • Extended Electron and Proton Energy Ranges • Enhanced Services • - Improved alerts and warnings • - Improved assessment of spacecraft anomalies and degradation • - Direct measurement of the Spacecraft Charging Environment • - Better predictions of environmental conditions • XRS/EUV • Add five EUV channels • Enhanced Services • - Improved orbit prediction for low-earth-orbit • - Improved ionospheric parameterization • - Better predictions of iono/thermosphere • SXI • Improved sensitivity and spatial Resolution SEC Involvement with GOES Program Sun Radiation Belt Electrons and Solar Protons Geosync. Orbit • SEM Measurements Provide Space Environment Data for Operations and Science. • Approximately 30 SEC staff members contribute significant portions of their time to support the GOES project • Positions include: managers, scientists, forecasters, engineers, programmers and software engineers, technicians, system and network administrators • Tasks include: instrument definition and future mission planning, program and instrument management, ground station support, data ingest, data processing and archive, data validation and quality control, real-time operations, computer hardware and software support, algorithm development, image processing, database design and development, displays design and development, research, and data dissemination Magnetopause Ionospheric variations cause navigation errors in GPS Thermospheric Density variations cause orbit instabilities or even re-entry 3 Hours Baker et al., 1998