Ravens satellite mission concept study

TL;DR

The Ravens satellite mission concept aims to provide continuous, 24/7 global imaging of the northern hemisphere's auroral and polar regions, filling a critical gap in space weather observation capabilities.

Contribution

It introduces a novel dual-satellite system on elliptical polar orbits for uninterrupted global imaging of auroral phenomena, expanding upon existing Canadian and international space observation efforts.

Findings

First-ever continuous global auroral imaging achieved.

Maps of electron and proton energy fluxes obtained.

Enhanced understanding of auroral dynamics during geomagnetic events.

Abstract

The concept for Ravens satellite mission was proposed in response to a CSA AO for potential Canadian mission contributions to the International Living With a Star (ILWS) program. Ravens was conceived of to fill an important gap in the ILWS program: global imaging. Ravens will build on the heritage of world-class global imaging carried out in Canada. It would do much more than provide global observations to complete the system level capabilities of ILWS. Ravens would be comprised of two satellites on elliptical polar orbits, relatively phased on those orbits to provide the first-ever continuous (ie., 24 hours per day 7 days per week) global imaging of the northern hemisphere auroral and polar cap regions. This would provide the first-ever unbroken sequences of global images of the auroral response during long duration geomagnetic processes like storms and steady magnetospheric convection events. Ravens could track the spatio-temporal evolution of the global electron and proton auroral distribution, and would obtain maps of characteristic energy and energy flux of the precipitating electrons.