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The Active Plasma and E-field Sounders (APES) Mission Concept.

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Title: The Active Plasma and E-field Sounders (APES) Mission Concept.
Authors: Chartier, A. T.1 (AUTHOR) alex.chartier@jhuapl.edu, Skolar, C. R.2 (AUTHOR) chirag.skolar@njit.edu, Esser, R. H.1 (AUTHOR) bob.esser@jhuapl.edu, Almarhabi, L.3 (AUTHOR) lujain@vt.edu, Haapala, A.1 (AUTHOR) Amanda.Haapala.Chalk@jhuapl.edu, Carroll, J.4 (AUTHOR) joe.carroll@spire.com, Ward, C.4 (AUTHOR) craig.ward@spire.com
Source: Surveys in Geophysics. Jun2025, Vol. 46 Issue 3, p723-752. 30p.
Subject Terms: *Ionospheric electron density, *Electron distribution, *Elliptical orbits, *Electron density, *Electron temperature
Abstract: The Active Plasma and E-field Sounders (APES) mission concept aims to resolve orders-of-magnitude errors in modeling transionospheric radio propagation through the midlatitude trough, and to determine which physical mechanism(s) are responsible for generating plasma irregularities there. APES will observe ionospheric electron density profiles and signals from ground transmitters along its orbital track, allowing for a constrained test of propagation models. The mission will also perform small-scale in situ science, differentiating between the long-held temperature gradient instability and the Kelvin–Helmholtz/gradient drift instabilities as potential causes of irregularities in the trough. The centerpiece of the mission is the first-ever oblique topside ionospheric sounder, providing 2D electron density-altitude profiles along the orbital track through cooperative operation between two satellites. The leading satellite will produce swept-frequency HF transmissions that will reflect off the ionosphere before being received by the follower. The following satellite will also receive signals transmitted by the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN). Both satellites will observe electron density at 1 m along-track resolution, while single-point electron temperature, vector electric field, neutral density and neutral wind will also be provided. The mission will operate in a nominal 350 × 800 km elliptical orbit, with along-track spacing varied from < 1 to 750 km over 12 months of science operations in an inclination between 50–87° and 103–130° (depending on the rideshare). Each bus carries a 250 m/s propulsion system to control eccentricity and for orbit maintenance. The orbital analysis has been used to select orbits with > 500 passes through the trough in each quarter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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  Data: The Active Plasma and E-field Sounders (APES) Mission Concept.
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Chartier%2C+A%2E+T%2E%22&quot;&gt;Chartier, A. T.&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;1&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;i&gt; alex.chartier@jhuapl.edu&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Skolar%2C+C%2E+R%2E%22&quot;&gt;Skolar, C. R.&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;2&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;i&gt; chirag.skolar@njit.edu&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Esser%2C+R%2E+H%2E%22&quot;&gt;Esser, R. H.&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;1&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;i&gt; bob.esser@jhuapl.edu&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Almarhabi%2C+L%2E%22&quot;&gt;Almarhabi, L.&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;3&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;i&gt; lujain@vt.edu&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Haapala%2C+A%2E%22&quot;&gt;Haapala, A.&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;1&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;i&gt; Amanda.Haapala.Chalk@jhuapl.edu&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Carroll%2C+J%2E%22&quot;&gt;Carroll, J.&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;4&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;i&gt; joe.carroll@spire.com&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Ward%2C+C%2E%22&quot;&gt;Ward, C.&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;relatesTo&gt;4&lt;/relatesTo&gt; (AUTHOR)&lt;i&gt; craig.ward@spire.com&lt;/i&gt;
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;JN&quot; term=&quot;%22Surveys+in+Geophysics%22&quot;&gt;Surveys in Geophysics&lt;/searchLink&gt;. Jun2025, Vol. 46 Issue 3, p723-752. 30p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Ionospheric+electron+density%22&quot;&gt;Ionospheric electron density&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Electron+distribution%22&quot;&gt;Electron distribution&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Elliptical+orbits%22&quot;&gt;Elliptical orbits&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Electron+density%22&quot;&gt;Electron density&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Electron+temperature%22&quot;&gt;Electron temperature&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The Active Plasma and E-field Sounders (APES) mission concept aims to resolve orders-of-magnitude errors in modeling transionospheric radio propagation through the midlatitude trough, and to determine which physical mechanism(s) are responsible for generating plasma irregularities there. APES will observe ionospheric electron density profiles and signals from ground transmitters along its orbital track, allowing for a constrained test of propagation models. The mission will also perform small-scale in situ science, differentiating between the long-held temperature gradient instability and the Kelvin–Helmholtz/gradient drift instabilities as potential causes of irregularities in the trough. The centerpiece of the mission is the first-ever oblique topside ionospheric sounder, providing 2D electron density-altitude profiles along the orbital track through cooperative operation between two satellites. The leading satellite will produce swept-frequency HF transmissions that will reflect off the ionosphere before being received by the follower. The following satellite will also receive signals transmitted by the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN). Both satellites will observe electron density at 1 m along-track resolution, while single-point electron temperature, vector electric field, neutral density and neutral wind will also be provided. The mission will operate in a nominal 350 &#215; 800 km elliptical orbit, with along-track spacing varied from &lt; 1 to 750 km over 12 months of science operations in an inclination between 50–87&#176; and 103–130&#176; (depending on the rideshare). Each bus carries a 250 m/s propulsion system to control eccentricity and for orbit maintenance. The orbital analysis has been used to select orbits with &gt; 500 passes through the trough in each quarter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10712-025-09878-8
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 30
        StartPage: 723
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Ionospheric electron density
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electron distribution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elliptical orbits
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electron density
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electron temperature
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: The Active Plasma and E-field Sounders (APES) Mission Concept.
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 46
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            – TitleFull: Surveys in Geophysics
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