The fluxgate magnetometer of the Low Orbit Pearl Satellites (LOPS): overview of in-flight performance and initial results

• Published in: Geoscientific instrumentation, methods and data systems methods and data systems, 2021-09, Vol.10 (2), p.227-243
• Main Authors: Zhu, Ye, Du, Aimin, Luo, Hao, Qiao, Donghai, Zhang, Ying, Ge, Yasong, Yang, Jiefeng, Sun, Shuquan, Zhao, Lin, Ou, Jiaming, Guo, Zhifang, Tian, Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Altitude; Artificial satellites; Calibration; Electric currents; Electrojets; Electronics; Equatorial electrojet; Flight; Flight characteristics; Fluxgate magnetometers; Ionosphere; Ionospheric research; Low altitude; Magnetic field; Magnetic fields; Magnetism; Magnetometers; Magnetosphere; Magnetospheres; Microsatellites; Receivers & amplifiers; Ring currents; Satellite constellations; Satellites; Sensors; Spacecraft; Storms
• ISSN: 2193-0864; 2193-0856; 2193-0864
• DOI: 10.5194/gi-10-227-2021

The Low Orbit Pearl Satellite series consists of six constellations, with each constellation consisting of three identical microsatellites that line up just like a string of pearls. The first constellation of three satellites were launched on 29 September 2017, with an inclination of ∼ 35.5∘ and ∼ 600 km altitude. Each satellite is equipped with three identical fluxgate magnetometers that measure the in situ magnetic field and its low-frequency fluctuations in the Earth's low-altitude orbit. The triple sensor configuration enables separation of stray field effects generated by the spacecraft from the ambient magnetic field (e.g., Zhang et al., 2006). This paper gives a general description of the magnetometer including the instrument design, calibration before launch, in-flight calibration, in-flight performance, and initial results. Unprecedented spatial coverage resolution of the magnetic field measurements allow for the investigation of the dynamic processes and electric currents of the ionosphere and magnetosphere, especially for the ring current and equatorial electrojet during both quiet geomagnetic conditions and storms. Magnetic field measurements from LOPS could be important for studying the method to separate their contributions of the Magnetosphere-Ionosphere (M-I) current system.