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Articles by RAL Space
EGUsphere - First demonstration of the combination of observations and datasets from diverse instruments (in a coordinated experiment using KAIRA, EISCAT, GNSS) that enables the extraction of new information about the ionosphere
The plasma of the Earth’s ionosphere introduces effects on radio waves that traverse it. Propagation effects reflect the presence of the bulk ionisation along the ray path as well as the presence of inhomogeneities (or irregularities) in the spatial distribution of the plasma (or electron) density.
NASA's PUNCH satellites successfully launch to study the solar wind
Following a successful launch in the early hours of Wednesday morning (12 March 2025) U.K. time, the PUNCH spacecraft are poised to begin their two-year mission to study the sun's outer atmosphere and its transformation into the solar wind.
Mini lab secures NASA ride to the moon Original
A miniaturized laboratory developed by The Open University (OU) with support from RAL Space will fly to the lunar South Polar region in the European Space Agency's (ESA) Prospect package in search of volatiles, including water ice, as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. NASA has selected Intuitive Machines to deliver six payloads that will deepen our understanding of the moon and answer key questions about where and how volatiles can be found on the lunar surface.
First Sentinel-5 instrument leaves RAL Space for satellite integration Original
The first Sentinel-5 instrument has left RAL Space for integration onto the MetOp-SG A satellite, where it will contribute to improved monitoring of air quality, changes in the ozone layer, and emissions from wildfires. After spending almost nine months in vacuum at RAL Space, the first Sentinel-5 instrument has been successfully delivered by Airbus Defense and Space to the European Space Agency (ESA).
A model for photon counting X-ray event reconstruction uncertainty
paper • The following article is Open access A model for photon counting X-ray event reconstruction uncertainty L.S. Jones1,2 , C. Crews1 , J. Ivory1 and A.
Heritage ERS-2 satellite returns to Earth Original
Launched in 1995, ERS-2 was a pioneering Earth observation satellite that greatly influenced our understanding of our planet and climate change. Despite an intended operational life of only three years, the satellite had a 16-year operational lifetime, and together with the almost identical ERS-1 satellite left an important legacy for the future of Earth observation.
Lunar Aspirations to Pacific Disintegration: The Journey of the Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer
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Lunar Aspirations to Pacific Disintegration: The Journey of the Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer
The Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer (PITMS) has returned to Earth after an eventful ten days in space, burning up on re-entry over the Pacific Ocean. Developed at short notice by RAL Space, the Open University, and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the instrument was originally destined for the moon to determine the composition of the super-thin lunar atmosphere, but the mission ran into trouble shortly after leaving Earth, when a critical propellant leak was discovered on its lander.
Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer returns to Earth after eventful mission
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Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer returns to Earth after eventful mission Original
The Peregrine Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer (PITMS) has returned to Earth after an eventful ten days in space, burning up on re-entry over the Pacific Ocean. Developed at short notice by RAL Space, the Open University and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the instrument was originally destined for the moon to determine the composition of the super-thin lunar atmosphere, but the mission ran into trouble shortly after leaving Earth, when a critical propellant leak was discovered on its lander.
An Overview of Sunspot Observations in the Early Maunder Minimum: 1645–1659
Since 1610, telescopic sunspot observations have formed one of the longest and most well-studied observation-based indices of solar activity (Clette et al. 2014, 2023; Arlt & Vaquero 2020; Usoskin 2023). Apart from regular solar cycles of each ≈11 yr, these multicentury observations have detected an unusual period, a ‘grand minimum’ in 1645–1715 (Spörer 1889; Maunder 1922; Eddy 1976), which is currently known as the Maunder Minimum (MM).
Analyses for graphical records for a total solar eclipse in 1230 May: a possible reference for the ‘Medieval Grand Maximum’
As one of the greatest astronomical spectacles, total solar eclipses have marveled human civilizations and left their footprints in historical documents, arts, and scientific observations over millennia (De Jong & Van Soldt 1989; Stephenson 1997; Littman et al. 2009; Pasachoff & Olson 2014; Pasachoff 2017).
Analyses of Equatorward Auroral Extensions during the Extreme Geomagnetic Storm on 15 July 1959
Within the last four centuries, the late-1950s arguably witnessed the greatest enhancement of solar magnetic activity, as exemplified by the record values of sunspot number and group number around the maximum of Solar Cycle 19 (Clette & Lefèvre 2016; Svalgaard & Schatten 2016; Chatzistergos et al. 2017; Clette et al. 2023).
Katsue Misawa's sunspot observations in 1921-1934: a primary reference for the Wolfer-Brunner transition
Past solar magnetic activity has been reconstructed using the sunspot number (S ) since 1700 and the sunspot group number (G ) since 1610 (Hoyt & Schatten 1998; Clette et al. 2014, 2023; Clette & Lefèvre 2016; Muñoz-Jaramillo & Vaquero 2019).
Scientists find first evidence that black holes are the source of dark energy Original
Observations of supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies point to a likely source of dark energy—the 'missing' 70% of the universe. The measurements from ancient and dormant galaxies show black holes growing more than expected, aligning with a phenomenon predicted in Einstein's theory of gravity. The result potentially means nothing new has to be added to our picture of the universe to account for dark energy: black holes combined with Einstein's gravity are the source.
18th Appleton Space Conference - online
This major space conference celebrates the latest advancements in space science, Earth observation and technology development. When and where Thu, 1 December 2022, 09:15 – 18:30 GMT About this event 9 hours 15 minutes Mobile eTicket Join us online on Thursday 1st December to celebrate the latest research and developments in the space sector and explore future opportunities and space activities. The conference programme will be announced shortly.
220,000 metric tons of methane likely released from Nord Stream gas leak
220,000 metric tons of methane are likely to have been released from the ruptures in the Nord Stream gas pipelines, new satellite data has revealed. While the cause of the leaks remains unknown, U.K. scientists were able to detect the plume of released methane—one of the most potent greenhouse gases—as it first appeared over the south Baltic Sea on September 26 and re-emerged to the west of Norway on September 27 and 28.
The Variable Earth's Rotation in the 4th-7th Centuries: New ΔT Constraints from Byzantine Eclipse Records
Total solar eclipses have attracted human interest and been noted in the records of numerous civilizations over the millennia (Newton 1972; Schove & Fletcher 1984; De Jong & Van Soldt 1989; Stephenson 1997; Pasachoff & Olson 2014). For any given location, this astronomical spectacle is rare, as it requires the solar disk to coincide exactly with the lunar disk; moreover, total solar eclipses only occur along a narrow totality path.
Compact spatially heterodyned static interferometer
Abstract This paper presents a novel, to the best of our knowledge, and simple technique for achieving a higher spectral resolution in classical static Fourier transform spectrometers. This is achieved by heterodyning the frequency of a standard interferogram to a lower spatial frequency by placing a single transmission grating at the image plane of two mutually coherent beams produced by the interferometer.
Do the Chinese Astronomical Records Dated AD 776 January 12/13 Describe an Auroral Display or a Lunar Halo? A Critical Re-examination - Solar Physics
Abstract The enhancement of carbon-14 in tree rings around AD 774/775 has generated wide interest in solar activity at that time. The historical auroral records have been examined critically. Of particular interest was the “white vapour” observed in China on AD 776 January 12/13. Both Usoskin et al. (Astron. Astrophys. 55, L3, 2013; U13) and Stephenson (Adv. Space Res. 55, 1537, 2015; S15) interpreted this record as an auroral display. Subsequently, Neuhäuser and Neuhäuser (Astron. Nachr.
The application of heliospheric imaging to space weather operations: lessons learnt from published studies
The field of heliospheric imaging has matured significantly over the last 10 years ? corresponding, in particular, to the launch of NASA's STEREO mission and the successful operation of the heliospheric imager (HI) instruments thereon.
Modeling observations of solar coronal mass ejections with heliospheric imagers verified with the Heliophysics System Observatory
We present a major step forward towards accurately predicting the arrivals of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) at the terrestrial planets, including Earth. For the first time, we are able to assess a CME prediction model using data over 2/3 of a solar cycle of observations with the Heliophysics System Observatory.
Using the ionospheric response to the solar eclipse on 20 March 2015 to detect spatial structure in the solar corona
Research article: Using the ionospheric response to the solar eclipse on 20 March 2015 to detect spatial structure in the solar corona C. J. Scott, J. Bradford, S. A. Bell, J. Wilkinson, L. Barnard, D. Smith, S. Tudor Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 2016 374 20150216; DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2015.0216. Published 22 August 2016
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