Abstract
AbstractThe concept of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) refers to the ability to detect and track threats, enabling appropriate mitigation measures aimed at protecting space assets. In this paper, we explored a possible extension of this concept by considering asset protection and connectivity to satellites in orbit by users under various circumstances. Turbulence in the ionospheric layer at low latitude can degrade connectivity to satellites (GNSS and SATCOM). Field Aligned Irregularities (FAI) from such turbulence are often detected by Equatorial Atmosphere Radar (EAR) when the radar beam is pointed perpendicular to magnetic field lines. EAR has been operational in Kototabang (0.20° S, 100.32° E; 10.36° S dip latitude), with beam steering capability up to 30 degrees from the zenith direction. At ionospheric altitude, EAR direct horizontal coverage is around ~200 km. However, considering the physical properties of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPB), we can extend the effective “viewing area”. The north–south elongation of EPB implies an additional ~4000 km coverage from EAR meridionally. The eastward drift of EPB implies a further ~2000 km extension of coverage zonally. In this scheme, EAR effectively “guesses” the location of FAI when they are not directly in the field of view. Our study reconstructed the EPB geometry in three dimensions (3-D) based on EAR FAI data and the above assumptions. The reconstructed 3D EPB geometry may be useful to many types of users, such as those in the maritime, aviation, or aerospace sectors operating in the Southeast Asian region, extending the SSA concept more widely.KeywordsSpace situational awareness (SSA)Equatorial plasma bubbleScintillationGNSS
Published Version
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