NSSDCA ID: 1965-098A-01
Mission Name: Alouette 2The purpose of the sweep-frequency sounder experiment was to extend the Alouette 1 measurements to higher altitudes (3000 km) and to a different period of the solar cycle. The Alouette 2 sounder was also designed to provide greatly improved observations of plasma resonances. The sweep-frequency ionosonde was a radio transmitter/receiver that recorded the time delay between a transmitted and returned radio frequency pulse. A continuum of frequencies between 0.12 and 14.5 MHz were sampled once every 32 s. A multiplicity of delay times was usually observed due to birefringence of the ionosphere, nonvertical propagation, ground echoes, plasma resonances, etc. Delay time was primarily a function of distance traversed by the signal, electron density along the propagation path, and mode of propagation. The standard data form is an ionogram (graph) showing delay time (virtual distance of signal reflection from the satellite) versus frequency. Two other common forms of data were prepared from the ionograms. They are digital frequency and/or virtual height values of characteristic ionospheric features and computations of electron density profiles.
Mass: 27 kg
Power (avg): 25 W
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Charley Taieb | Other Investigator | Centre National d'Etudes des Telecommunications | |
Dr. Yoshiharu Ogata | Other Investigator | Radio Research Laboratory | |
Mr. John E. Jackson | Other Investigator | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | |
Dr. Lawrence Colin | Other Investigator | NASA Ames Research Center | |
Dr. George Leroy Nelms | Other Investigator | Department of Communications/Communications Research Centre | |
Dr. J. H. Whitteker | Other Investigator | Department of Communications/Communications Research Centre | |
Dr. Joseph W. King | Other Investigator | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory | |
Dr. Ravipati Raghavarao | Other Investigator | Physical Research Laboratory | raghava@mite.gsfc.nasa.gov |
Mr. J. F. Turner | Other Investigator | Ionospheric Prediction Service | |
Dr. Olav Holt | Other Investigator | Auroral Observatory | |
Dr. Glen E.K. Lockwood | Other Investigator | Department of Communications/Communications Research Centre | |
Dr. Eldon S. Warren | Principal Investigator | Department of Communications/Communications Research Centre | |
Mr. Donald B. Muldrew | Principal Investigator | Department of Communications/Communications Research Centre | dmuldrew@rogers.com |