TWINS

This article is about the NASA instruments. For other uses of "Twins", see Twins (disambiguation).
TWINS
TWINS 1 and TWINS 2 in simultaneous Molniya orbits, obtain stereo images of the Earth's ring current, including signals from both trapped ions and precipitating ions.
Operator NASA
Instrument Type Spectrometer
Function Magnetospheric
Website http://twins.swri.edu/index.jsp
Properties
Number launched 2
Host Spacecraft
Spacecraft USA-184
USA-200
Operator NRO
Orbit Molniya

Two Wide-Angle Imaging Neutral-Atom Spectrometers (TWINS) are a pair of NASA instruments aboard two United States National Reconnaissance Office satellites in Molniya orbits. TWINS was designed to provide stereo images of the Earth's ring current. The first instrument, TWINS-1, was launched aboard USA-184 on 28 June 2006. TWINS-2 followed aboard USA-200 on March 13, 2008.

Each instrument consists of an energetic neutral atom imager and a Lyman alpha detector. The ENA imager provides indirect remote sensing of the ring current ions, and the Lyman alpha detector gives a measure of the neutral hydrogen cloud about the Earth, known as the geocorona. The TWINS prime mission lasted two years, from 2008 to 2010, and has been followed by an extended mission which is ongoing.

Mission

Launched as missions of opportunity aboard classified, non-NASA U.S. government spacecraft, TWINS conducts stereoscopic imaging of Earth's magnetosphere. By imaging the charge exchange neutral atoms over a broad energy range (~1-100 keV) using two identical instruments on two widely spaced high-altitude, high-inclination spacecraft, TWINS enables the 3-dimensional visualization and the resolution of large scale structures and dynamics within the magnetosphere for the first time. In contrast to traditional space experiments, which make measurements at only one point in space, imaging experiments provide simultaneous viewing of different regions of the magnetosphere. Stereo imaging, as done by TWINS, takes the next step of producing 3-D images, and provides a leap ahead in our understanding of the global aspects of the terrestrial magnetosphere.

The ENA imagers observe energetic neutrals produced from the global magnetospheric ion population, over an energy range of 1 to 100 keV with high angular (4-degree) and time (about 1-minute) resolution. A Lyman-alpha geocoronal imager is used to monitor cold exospheric hydrogen atoms that produce ENAs from ions via charge exchange. Complementing these imagers are detectors that measure the local charged particle environment around the spacecraft.

The offset in the orbital phases (apogees at different times) of TWINS 1 and TWINS 2 means that in addition to stereo ENA imaging for several hours twice per day, the two TWINS instruments also obtain essentially continuous magnetospheric observations.

The TWINS instrumentation is essentially the same as the MENA instrument on the IMAGE spacecraft. This instrumentation consists of a neutral atom imager covering the ~1-100 keV energy range with 4°x4° angular resolution and 1-minute time resolution, and a simple Lyman-alpha imager to monitor the geocorona.

TWINS provides stereo imaging of the Earth's magnetosphere, the region surrounding the planet controlled by its magnetic field and containing the Van Allen radiation belts and other energetic charged particles. TWINS enables three-dimensional global visualization of this region, leading to greatly enhanced understanding of the connections between different regions of the magnetosphere and their relation to the solar wind.[1]

Operation

First Stereo ENA Image. This is a first-light stereo ENA image of the terrestrial ring current obtained by TWINS on 15 June 2008 for 10 keV energy. Visible in each image are both low-altitude emissions (LAE) from precipitating ions, and high-altitude ring current emissions (RCE). For reference, the Earth's limb is drawn in, along with dipole magnetic field lines at four cardinal local times (noon=red, dusk=lavender, midnight, and dawn) and two L-values (L=4 and L=8).

Routine stereo imaging by TWINS began on 15 June 2008, during an extremely weak geomagnetic storm whose Dst index never fell below -40 nT, as compared to a nominal Dst of -100 nT for classification as a storm. During the TWINS prime mission (2008–2010), an extended and unprecedented solar minimum (from solar cycle 23) prevailed, bringing with it very calm magnetospheric conditions ranging from dead quiet to mildly disturbed. During this time period TWINS observed numerous weak storms, roughly once every 27 days (corresponding to the solar rotation period and triggered by solar corotating interaction regions (CIRs). The strongest storm (which was still very mild) observed by TWINS during its prime mission was on 22 July 2009, with Dst reaching a moderate -79 nT. Throughout these extended quiet conditions TWINS images contained ENA signals from both high-altitude (ring current) and low-altitude emission (LAE) regions.

Instruments

Name Launch name Spacecraft Launch date (UTC) Launch site Rocket Orbit Remarks
TWINS-1 TWINS-A USA-184 28 June 2006
03:30:00 		VAFB SLC-6 Delta IV-M+(4,2) 1,138 km x 39,210 km x63.2°[2]
TWINS-2 TWINS-B USA-200 13 March 2008
10:02 		VAFB SLC-3E Atlas V 411 1,652 km x 38,702 km x63.4°[3]

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

  1. ↑ "Missions - TWINS A & B - NASA Science". Science.nasa.gov. 2008-03-13. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  2. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "Orbit Data". USA-200. Heavens Above. Retrieved 30 May 2011.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, January 17, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.