M. V. Podzolko

First results of investigating the space environment onboard the Universitetskii-Tatyana satellite

The complex of scientific pay load installed onboard the research and educational Universitetskii-Tatyana microsatellite of Moscow State University is described. The complex is designed to study charged particles in the near-earth space and ultraviolet emissions of the atmosphere. Data of the measurements of charged particle fluxes in the microsatellite orbit are presented, spectra are calculated, and the dynamics of penetration boundaries for protons of solar cosmic rays (SCR) during geomagnetic disturbances in 2005 is investigated. Intensities of the ultraviolet emission are measured in the entire range of variation of the atmospheric irradiation, as well as intensities of auroras in the polar regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The experimental data on flashes of ultraviolet radiation (transient light phenomena in the upper atmosphere) are considered, and some examples of oscillograms of their temporal development and their distribution over geographical coordinates are presented.

Investigations of the space environment aboard the Universitetsky-Tat’yana and Universitetsky-Tat’yana-2 microsatellites

The first results obtained through the university small satellites program developed at Moscow State University (MSU) are presented. The space environment was investigated aboard two MSU microsatellites designed for scientific and educational purposes, Universitetsky-Tat’yana and Universitetsky-Tat’yana-2. The scientific equipment is described to study charged particles in near Earth space and atmospheric radiations in ultraviolet, red, and infrared optical wavelength ranges. The dynamic properties of fluxes of charged particles in microsatellite orbits are studied and findings are presented regarding specific parameters of solar proton penetration during the geomagnetic disturbances. Experimental results are considered concerning flashes of ultraviolet (UV), red (R), and infrared (IR) radiation that are transient light phenomena in the upper atmosphere. The space educational MSU program developed on the basis of the Universitetsky-Tat’yana projects is reviewed.

Radiation Conditions of a Mission to Jupiter and Europa

Radiation conditions in Jupiter’s environment and the plasma environment in interplanetary space during a Jupiter-Europa mission are estimated. The numerical modeling results can be used when planning the mission.

Optimization of the Interplanetary Energetic Proton Flux Database and Its Application in Modeling Radiation Conditions

The dissimilarity of the results of solar and galactic proton flux measurements made on different spacecraft is pointed out. It is caused, in addition to instrument errors, by differences in the temporal and spatial conditions of the measurements. We suggest using statistical analysis of proton fluences calculated for different long time intervals, from half a year to 10 years, for the optimization of the interplanetary proton database. An example of such analysis is presented and a probabilistic model of total proton fluences at the Earth’s orbit outside the magnetosphere, constructed using the analysis, is described. A formalized method for separating proton fluxes in solar proton events from protons of galactic cosmic rays is suggested. A conclusion is made that sources of cosmic ray protons with energies of less than 4 MeV should be examined in more detail.

Operational radiation monitoring in near-Earth space based on the system of multiple small satellites

The operational monitoring of radiation conditions in different orbits in near-Earth space is crucial for ensuring the radiation safety of space flights. The intensity of ionizing radiation fluxes in near-Earth space varies within several orders of magnitude. Therefore, existing averaged empirical models cannot always be used to estimate specific radiation conditions in orbits. The forecast of solar cosmic rays is even less reliable. This paper presents a version of the global system of radiation monitoring in near-Earth space based on the system of multiple small satellites. The considered system of satellites with identical radiometric equipment will provide operational information on the fluxes of electrons and protons of Earth radiation belts and solar cosmic rays, which will make it possible to create 3D pictures of the distribution of particle fluxes in real time.

Optimization of measurements of the Earth’s radiation belt particle fluxes

The Earth’s radiation belts discovered at the end of the 1950s have great scientific and practical interest. Their main characteristics in magnetically quiet periods are well known. However, the dynamics of the Earth’s radiation belts during magnetic storms and substorms, particularly the dynamics of relativistic electrons of the outer belt, when Earth’s radiation belt particle fluxes undergo significant time variations, is studied insufficiently. At present, principally new experiments have been performed and planned with the intention to better study the dynamics of the Earth’s radiation belts and to operationally control the space-energy distributions of the Earth’s radiation belt particle fluxes. In this paper, for spacecraft designed to measure the fluxes of electrons and protons of the Earth’s radiation belts at altitudes of 0.5–10000 km, the optimal versions for detector orientation and orbital parameters have been considered and selected.

Empirical model of galactic cosmic ray particle fluxes based on the experimental data in solar cycles 21–24

Fundamentals of a new model developed for predicting GCR particle fluxes during space missions are discussed. The model is based on the data set measured onboard spacecraft and stratospheric balloons from 1970s till 2015. The model describes fluxes of GCR particles with charge z from 1 to 28 and energy from ~80 MeV/nucleon up to 100 GeV/nucleon in the interplanetary space at heliocentric distance ~1 AU as a function of solar activity (averaged sunspot number).

Radiation environment at the end of active functioning of Vernov satellite

Factors of radiation environment in near-Earth space in a period from December 1 to 10, 2014 have been analyzed, which could affect serviceability of the onboard systems of Vernov spacecraft.

Modeling radiation conditions in orbits of projected system of small satellites for radiation monitoring

Calculated estimates are presented for the accumulated radiation doses behind the shields of various thicknesses in the orbits of projected at Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow State University system of small satellites for radiation monitoring. The results are analyzed and compared with the calculation data for other actively exploited near-Earth orbits.