Space Weather Operation at KASI With Van Allen Probes Beacon Signals

Abstract

AbstractThe Van Allen Probes (VAPs) are the only modern National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) spacecraft broadcasting real‐time data on the Earth's radiation belts for space weather operations. Since 2012, the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) has contributed to the receipt of these data via a 7 m satellite‐tracking antenna and used these beacon data for space weather operations. An approximately 15 min period is required from measurement to acquisition of Level‐1 data. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of VAP data for monitoring space weather conditions at geostationary orbit (GEO) by highlighting the Saint Patrick's Day storm of 2015. During that storm, Probe‐A observed a significant increase in the relativistic electron flux at 3 RE. Those electrons diffused outward resulting in a large increase of the electron flux >2 MeV at GEO, which potentially threatened satellite operations. Based on this study, we conclude that the combination of VAP data and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration‐Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (NOAA‐GOES) data can provide improved space environment information to geostationary satellite operators. In addition, the findings obtained indicate that more data‐receiving sites would be necessary and data connections improved if this or a similar system were to be used as an operational data service.