The National Space Organization launched the Sounding Rocket V at 19:48, on January 18 th , 2006, from the Jiu Peng Air Base in Pingtung, to conduct execute the suborbital space science experiment mission . The planning of this scientific experiment has been undertaken by the National Space Organization, and the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology has been commissioned to research and develop the sounding rocket. This project is carried out jointly with the science team of the National Central University.
The payloads of scientific instruments carried by the Sounding Rocket V include an Ion Probe and an attitude magnetometer. The objective is to measure the plasma density and ion temperature in the atmosphere between the altitude s within the distance of 80 km and to 280 km. Apart from carrying the above instruments, the scientific team also has built up a 30MHz radar near a t Jiu Peng Launch Site Station , to better observe the characteristics of the irregular objects in the ionosphere of 5 meters in size . This observation includes the duration of the event, the three-dimensional triple structure of the irregular objects, the drifting floating speed, and plasma turbulences, etc. The phenomenon is observed simultaneously at the same time by the payloads carried by the sounding rocket and the ground radar equipment , which can study the correlation between the emission mechanism, the electron density, and the vertical distribution s of the ion temperature.
Besides, in order to as to meet the requirements of this sounding space rocket science experiment, four ionosphere observation radars have been set up over in Taiwan island by the Institute of Space Science of the National Central University, so the simultaneous observation of ionosphere and the spatial space distribution s of the ionosphere during the period of experiment al observation can be obtained. As for the high definition GPS receiver, set up by the science team of the Aerospace Science and Technology Research Center (ASTRC), the National Cheng Kung University and the National Central University, it able to observe the ionosphere´s flashing blinking phenomenon produced by the irregular objects in the ionosphere, and the spatial space distribution of the overall total electron concentration content in the ionosphere.
When the irregular objects are produced in the ionosphere, it is inevitable that the ionosphere plasma density will become highly turbulent cause violent perturbation , the result will cause the irregular changes in the air glow intensity density in the ionosphere. Since, t T he FORMOSA II, operated controlled by Taiwan, is equipped with payloads able to observe the air glow in the ionosphere , , so, at the same time w w hen the Sounding Rocket V is proceeding with performing the scientific experiment, the air glow measurement will be carried out in the experimental airspace, using the upper atmosphere air ISUAL. Up to this moment, it is very hard to find the event of irregular objects in the specific ionosphere in the world. This experiment also has set the first example in the world, for such a specific ionosphere irregularity experiment, of using a Sounding Rocket to measure the plasma density and the vertical distribution s of the ion temperature, ground radars (with the previously established position of the irregular objects and the three-dimensional triple structure, and the observation of the drifting floating speed), and a n artificial satellite (to observe the air glow) all at the same time.
In order to coordinate with the launch of the Sounding Rocket V, the National Space Organization has planned to proceed with the observation of the air glow above Taiwan´s sky, when the satellite passes by the West side of Taiwan from 22:55~23:05 every evening, for five days from January 16 th to January 20 th . The rocket and satellite joint observation mission is shown in a computer simulation, as in Photo 1. Due to that the satellite measurement must change positions and perspectives continuously in the 10 minutes period when of passing over Taiwan, in order to aim at the target zone, the National Space Organization has already carried out a rehearsal in the evenings of January 8 th , January 10 th and January 12 th . The rehearsal completed a successful observation of the air glow over , above in the sky of over Taiwan. The air glow above in the sky over Taiwan, observed on January 16 th , by the Imager of Sprites and Upper Atmospheric Lightnings (ISUAL) h igh altitude atmosphere lightening image probe on Formosa II is shown in Photo 2.
The Sounding Rocket V was launched in the evening of January 18th, during the event of irregular objects of the ionosphere. According to the remote onsite transmitted figures at Jiu Peng Air Base, the first stage section of the rocket separated detached 6 seconds after the launch, and the second stage section was ignited at 12 seconds after the launch , then burned out at 42 seconds later , and the payload fairing separated detached at 58.2 seconds afterwards . The maximum altitude height reached by the rocket was is 282 km, and the flight time was is 530 seconds. The ion test probe started its experiments after the separation detachment of the payload fairing, and started to download data using through the rocket 's telemetry .
There are three main goals accomplished by significances of the scientific experiment and carried out by the Sounding Rocket V:
- The execution of the scientific joint observation mission, to explore and search with ground radars, to actually taking data test with the sounding rocket , and the satellite to test remotely . GPS Receiver as the standard equipment of the sounding rocket, to instantly provide precise data and figures of the flight legend path .
- The payload fairing is a new apparatus instrument added to the Sounding rocket, and also added are instruments that it measure s the ex in ternal temperature, pressure, vibration, and other flight environment.
The realization of this joint observation mission not only is sets up a new milestone for the space exploration of our country, it also helps in a great measure, to further understand and discover the correlation of the mechanism causing of the cause of irregular objects in the ionosphere.
Photo 1: computer simulation of the rocket and satellite joint observation mission
Photo 2: air glow over the Taiwan sky, observed by the Imager of Sprites and Upper Atmospheric Lightnings (ISUAL) high altitude atmosphere lightening image probe in the evening of January 16th
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