The gridded retarding ion drift sensor for the petitSat cubeSat mission

Area of Science:

• Space Physics
• Atmospheric Science
• Plasma Physics

Background:

• The Earth's ionosphere is a dynamic region influenced by solar activity.
• Understanding ionospheric plasma dynamics is crucial for space weather prediction.
• Previous instruments have validated the techniques used in GRIDS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Gridded Retarding Ion Drift Sensor (GRIDS) for CubeSat missions.
• To detail the measurement capabilities of GRIDS in the ionosphere.
• To utilize GRIDS on the petitSat mission to study plasma blobs.

Main Methods:

• GRIDS combines Retarding Potential Analyzer (RPA) and Ion Drift Meter (IDM) functionalities.
• The sensor alternates between RPA and IDM measurements.
• GRIDS is designed for low mass, size, and power consumption, meeting CubeSat requirements.

Main Results:

• GRIDS measures the 3D plasma drift velocity vector.
• It provides data on ion temperature, ion density, and light-to-heavy ion ratios.
• The sensor's design is validated by successful techniques from larger missions.

Conclusions:

• GRIDS offers a compact solution for in-situ ionospheric plasma measurements.
• The instrument is suitable for CubeSat platforms.
• GRIDS will contribute to the characterization of ionospheric plasma blobs.