V. O. Barinova

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.

Experiment on the Vernov satellite: Transient energetic processes in the Earth’s atmosphere and magnetosphere. Part I: Description of the experiment

The program of physical studies on the Vernov satellite launched on July 8, 2014 into a polar (640 × 830 km) solar-synchronous orbit with an inclination of 98.4° is presented. We described the complex of scientific equipment on this satellite in detail, including multidirectional gamma-ray detectors, electron spectrometers, red and ultra-violet detectors, and wave probes. The experiment on the Vernov satellite is mainly aimed at a comprehensive study of the processes of generation of transient phenomena in the optical and gamma-ray ranges in the Earth’s atmosphere (such as high-altitude breakdown on runaway relativistic electrons), the study of the action on the atmosphere of electrons precipitated from the radiation belts, and low- and high-frequency electromagnetic waves of both space and atmospheric origin.

Electron flux variations at altitudes of 600–800 km in the second half of 2014. preliminary results of an experiment using RELEC equipment onboard the satellite VERNOV

The results of measurements of fluxes and spectra carried out using the RELEC (relativistic electrons) equipment onboard the VERNOV satellite in the second half of 2014 are presented. The VERNOV satellite was launched on July 8, 2014 in a sun-synchronous orbit with an altitude from 640 to 830 km and an inclination of 98.4°. Scientific information from the satellite was first received on July 20, 2014. The comparative analysis of electron fluxes using data from RELEC and using experimental data on the electron detection by satellites Elektro-L (positioned at a geostationary orbit) and Meteor-M no. 2 (positioned at a circular polar orbit at an altitude of about 800 km as the VERNOV satellite) will make it possible to study the spatial distribution pattern of energetic electrons in near-Earth space in more detail.

Correlation between the Earth’s outer radiation belt dynamics and solar wind parameters at the solar minimum according to EMP instrument data onboard the CORONAS-Photon satellite

The study of variations in the electron flux in the outer Earth radiation belt (ERB) and their correlations with solar processes is one of the important problems in the experiment with the Electron-M-Peska instrument onboard the CORONAS-Photon solar observatory. Data on relativistic and subrelativistic electron fluxes obtained by the Electron-M-Peska in 2009 have been used to study the outer ERB dynamics at the solar minimum. Increases in outer ERB relativistic electron fluxes, observed at an height of 550 km after weak magnetic disturbances induced by high-velocity solar wind arriving to the Earth, have been analyzed. The geomagnetic disturbances induced by the high-velocity solar wind and that resulted in electron flux variations were insignificant: there were no considerable storms and substorms during that period; however, several polar ground-based stations observed an increase in wave activity. An assumption has been made that the wave activity caused the variations in relativistic electron fluxes.

Experiment on the Vernov satellite: Transient energetic processes in the Earth’s atmosphere and magnetosphere. Part II. First results

We present the first experimental results on the observation of optical transients, gamma-ray bursts, relativistic electrons, and electromagnetic waves obtained during the experiment with the RELEC complex of scientific equipment on the Vernov satellite.

The influence of solar flares on the near-Earth space radiation environment in March and April 2013: Possibilities of operational monitoring

This paper deals with the operational analysis of the influence of solar flares, which produced solar cosmic rays, on the near-Earth radiation environment in space during the period from March 1 to April 18, 2013.

Dynamics of the Earth’s outer radiation belt in November 2009 based on the experimental data from the CORONAS-Photon and Meteor-M No. 1 satellites

The dynamics of the Earth’s outer radiation belt were traced at altitudes of 500–830 km during weak geomagnetic disturbances based on the data of simultaneous experiments carried out in November 2009 onboard the CORONAS-Photon solar observatory and the Meteor-M No. 1 artificial satellite. The average statistical profile of external boundary of the outer radiation belt that is characteristic for a quiet magnetosphere has been found from the analysis of variations in the position of the polar boundary of the capture region in the Earth’s magnetosphere.

Comparison cosmic ray irradiation simulation and particle beam test on UFFO Burst Alert & Trigger telescope(UBAT) detectors

Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory pathfinder(UFFO-p) was launched onboard Lomonosov on 28th of April, 2016, and now is under various types of calibration for detection of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs). Since last September UFFO-p has taken X-ray data in space with UFFO Burst Alert & Trigger telescope (UBAT), those X-rays are mostly diffused backgrounds however, the rate turns out to be higher than expected by a factor of three. We assumed cosmic rays can contribute by making the count rate higher. We did such a simulation to investigate the effect of cosmic rays. In December 2016, we irradiated fragmented high energy heavy ions at CERN on the UBAT detector. We will report the result of comparison between simulation and beam test.

Cosmic ray effect on the X-ray Trigger Telescope of UFFO/Lomonosov using YSO scintillation crystal array in space

UFFO Burst Alert and Trigger telescope (UBAT) is the X-ray trigger telescope of UFFO/Lomonosov to localize X-ray source with coded mask method and X-ray detector. Its X-ray detector is made up of 36 8×8 pixels Yttrium OxyorthoSilicate (Y2SiO5:Ce, YSO) scintillation crystal arrays and 36 64-channel Multi-Anode PhotoMultiplier Tubes (MAPMTs) for space mission. Its effective detection area is 161cm2 and energy range is several keV to 150 keV. It was successfully launched in April 28, 2016. In several calibration run, we got several X-ray background data. We already knew X-ray background flux is 2-3 counts/cm2/sec in space. However our X-ray background data shows approximately 7-8 times higher than what we know. There are many candidates to explain high X-ray background count in space. One of candidates is cosmic ray. We will report cosmic ray effect on the X-ray detector using YSO scintillation crystal arrays in space.

The Slewing Mirror Telescope of UFFO-Pathfinder: first performance report in space

The Slewing Mirror Telescope(SMT) is the first orbital instrument, using motorized mirror for observations of the space, designed to shed light on first seconds of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) prompt UV/optical emission. The SMT is main component of the Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory (UFFO). Once GRB is detected by UFFO X-ray coded mask camera, SMT turns its motorized mirror within seconds to observe optical and UV emission of GRB. After several years of delay on its launch, UFFO was finally launched in 28 April 2016. Launch took place onboard Lomonosov satellite from new Russian kosmodrom Vostochny. Several space tests have been performed during that period, which proved the concept of SMT and gave precise values of SMT sensitivity and resolution. For the first time in the space observations, motorized mirror system is able to trace objects despite the drift of telescope FOV due to satellite orbital movement.