Swarm Thermal Ion Imager measurement performance

Abstract We assess the performance of thermal ion imaging (TII) technique as conceived for Swarm Earth Explorer satellites. Analysis, simulation, and laboratory testing performed prior to flight provided estimates systematic random error sources electric field instrument’s vector drift, field, kinetic temperature measurements. An end-to-end instrument simulator, consisting models TIIs on a prototypical satellite orbiting with ionospheric plasma, magnetic inputs, was used generate TII sensor data (level 0 data). These were processed prototype processor (the level 1b processor) characterize theoretical measurement performance. describe methodology uncertainty present main findings study. In addition, we achieved during approximately eight years orbital operations. Example measurements demonstrate quality drift velocity. Unprocessed imagery reveals spurious signals which can affect Availability such has proven vital diagnosing anomalies associated operation spacecraft–plasma interactions. Graphical