Space Weather Conditions Research Articles

Effects of space weather on satellite components

Space weather can affect satellite performance and cause “anomalies,” unexplained problems ranging from a minor temporary glitch to a complete failure of a component. Understanding these effects requires looking at the relationship between space weather conditions and anomalies. However, data on commercial satellite anomalies have not often been made available for scientists to study.

A major solar eruptive event in July 2012: Defining extreme space weather scenarios

AbstractA key goal for space weather studies is to define severe and extreme conditions that might plausibly afflict human technology. On 23 July 2012, solar active region 1520 (~141°W heliographic longitude) gave rise to a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) with an initial speed that was determined to be 2500 ± 500 km/s. The eruption was directed away from Earth toward 125°W longitude. STEREO‐A sensors detected the CME arrival only about 19 h later and made in situ measurements of the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field. In this paper, we address the question of what would have happened if this powerful interplanetary event had been Earthward directed. Using a well‐proven geomagnetic storm forecast model, we find that the 23–24 July event would certainly have produced a geomagnetic storm that was comparable to the largest events of the twentieth century (Dst ~ −500 nT). Using plausible assumptions about seasonal and time‐of‐day orientation of the Earth's magnetic dipole, the most extreme modeled value of storm‐time disturbance would have been Dst = −1182 nT. This is considerably larger than estimates for the famous Carrington storm of 1859. This finding has far reaching implications because it demonstrates that extreme space weather conditions such as those during March of 1989 or September of 1859 can happen even during a modest solar activity cycle such as the one presently underway. We argue that this extreme event should immediately be employed by the space weather community to model severe space weather effects on technological systems such as the electric power grid.

A survey of customers of space weather information

We present an analysis of the users of space weather information based on 2783 responses to an online survey among subscribers of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center e‐mail services. The survey requested information focused on the three NOAA space weather scales: geomagnetic storms, solar radiation storms, and radio blackouts. Space weather information is most commonly obtained for reasons of human safety and continuity or reliability of operations. The information is primarily used for situational awareness, as aid to understand anomalies, to avoid impacts on current and near‐future operations by implementing mitigating strategies, and to prepare for potential near‐future impacts that might occur in conjunction with contingencies that include electric power outages or GPS perturbations. Interest in, anticipated impacts from, and responses to the three main categories of space weather are quite uniform across societal sectors. Approximately 40% of the respondents expect serious to very serious impacts from space weather events if no action were taken to mitigate or in the absence of adequate space weather information. The impacts of space weather are deemed to be substantially reduced because of the availability of, and their response to, space weather forecasts and alerts. Current and near‐future space weather conditions are generally highly valued, considered useful, and generally, though not fully, adequate to avoid or mitigate societal impacts. We conclude that even among those receiving space weather information, there is considerable uncertainty about the possible impacts of space weather and thus about how to act on the space weather information that is provided.

High‐resolution station‐based diurnal ionospheric total electron content (TEC) from dual‐frequency GPS observations

AbstractTotal electron content (TEC) estimates derived from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal delays provide a rich source of information about the Earth's ionosphere. Networks of Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers data can be used to represent the ionosphere by a Global Ionospheric Map (GIM). Data input for GIMs is dual‐frequency GNSS‐only or a mixture of GNSS and altimetry observations. Parameterization of GNSS‐only GIMs approaches the ionosphere as a single‐layer model (SLM) to determine GPS TEC models over a region. Limitations in GNSS‐only GIM TEC are due largely to the nonhomogenous global distribution of GPS tracking stations with large data gaps over the oceans. The utility of slant GPS ionospheric‐induced path delays for high temporal resolution from a single‐station data rate offers better representation of TEC over a small region. A station‐based vertical TEC (TECV) approach modifies the traditional single‐layer model (SLM) GPS TEC method by introducing a zenith angle weighting (ZAW) filter to capture signal delays from mostly near‐zenith satellite passes. Comparison with GIMs shows the station‐dependent TEC (SD‐TEC) model exhibits robust performance under variable space weather conditions. The SD‐TEC model was applied to investigate ionospheric TEC variability during the geomagnetic storm event of 9 March 2012 at midlatitude station NJJJ located in New Jersey, USA. The high temporal resolution TEC results suggest TEC production and loss rate differences before, during, and after the storm.

Space weather radiation effects on geostationary satellite solid‐state power amplifiers

AbstractIn order to understand and mitigate the effects of space weather on the performance of geostationary (GEO) communications satellites, we analyze 16 years of archived telemetry data from Inmarsat, the UK‐based telecommunications company. We compare 665,112 operational hours of housekeeping telemetry from two generations of satellites, designated as Fleet A and Fleet B. Each generation experienced 13 solid‐state power amplifier (SSPA) anomalies for a total of 26 anomalies from 1996 to 2012. We compare telemetry from the Inmarsat anomalies with space weather observations, including data from the OMNI2 database, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, the Advanced Composition Explorer Satellite, and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) GEO observations; the evolution of the sunspot number; and the Kp index. Most SSPA anomalies for Fleet A occur as solar activity declines; Fleet B has not yet experienced a full solar cycle. For both fleets, the average value of Kp remained < 2 over time periods of 2 days, 3 days, and 2 weeks around the time of anomaly, which suggests that the anomalies occurred at times of relatively quiet geomagnetic activity and that they were probably not solely caused by surface charging. From 1996 to 2009, the average of the 1.8–3.5 MeV electron flux was 1.98 #/(cm2 s st keV). Five of the 26 anomalies, unfortunately, do not have corresponding science observations (specifically, electron flux data in the LANL data set), so part of this study focuses on the 21 anomalies when science observations were available. Six out of 21 anomalies experienced a high‐energy electron flux greater than 1.5 standard deviations above the mean of the log10 of the flux between 7 and 14 days prior to the anomaly. By contrast, a Monte Carlo simulation finds that on average, only 2.8 out of 21 (13%) of randomly assigned “anomalies” occur between 7 and 14 days after an electron flux greater than 1.5 standard deviations above the mean. Our observations suggest that internal charging from either past elevated radiation belt fluxes or some conditions related to relativistic electron enhancements (either causally or accidentally) is most likely responsible for the SSPA anomalies. We next consider the timing of these anomalies with respect to the local time (LT) and season. Anomalies occur at all LT sectors with 46% (Fleet A) and 38.5% (Fleet B) in the midnight to dawn sector and 54% (Fleet A) and 46% (Fleet B) in the local noon to dusk sector. From the local time distribution, surface charging does not appear to be the sole causative agent of the anomalies. Understanding the connection between the space weather conditions and anomalies on subsystems and specific components on identical and similar geostationary communications satellites for periods of time longer than a solar cycle will help guide design improvements and provide insight on their operation during space weather events.

Direct Observations of the Evolution of Polar Cap Ionization Patches

Patches of ionization are common in the polar ionosphere, where their motion and associated density gradients give variable disturbances to high-frequency (HF) radio communications, over-the-horizon radar location errors, and disruption and errors to satellite navigation and communication. Their formation and evolution are poorly understood, particularly under disturbed space weather conditions. We report direct observations of the full evolution of patches during a geomagnetic storm, including formation, polar cap entry, transpolar evolution, polar cap exit, and sunward return flow. Our observations show that modulation of nightside reconnection in the substorm cycle of the magnetosphere helps form the gaps between patches where steady convection would give a "tongue" of ionization (TOI).

Space Environmental Viewing and Analysis Network (SEVAN) – characteristics and first operation results

Space Environmental Viewing and Analysis Network is a worldwide network of identical particle detectors located at middle and low latitudes aimed to improve fundamental research of space weather conditions and to provide short- and long-term forecasts of the dangerous consequences of space storms. SEVAN detected changing fluxes of different species of secondary cosmic rays at different altitudes and latitudes, thus turning SEVAN into a powerful integrated device used to explore solar modulation effects. Till to now the SEVAN modules are installed at Aragats Space Environmental Centre in Armenia (3 units at altitudes 800, 2000 and 3200 m a.s.l.), Bulgaria (Moussala), Croatia and India (New-Delhi JNU.) and now under installation in Slovakia, LomnitskySchtit). Recently SEVAN detectors were used for research of new high-energy phenomena originated in terrestrial atmosphere – Thunderstorm Ground Enhancements (TGEs). In 2011 first joint measurements of solar modulation effects were detected by SEVAN network, now under analysis.

Relationship of Worldwide Rocket Launch Crashes with Geophysical Parameters

A statistical comparison of launch crashes at different worldwide space ports with geophysical factors has been performed. A comprehensive database has been compiled, which includes 50 years of information from the beginning of the space age in 1957 about launch crashes occurring world-wide. Special attention has been paid to statistics concerning launches at the largest space ports: Plesetsk, Baikonur, Cape Canaveral, and Vandenberg. In search of a possible influence of geophysical factors on launch failures, such parameters as the vehicle type, local time, season, sunspot number, high-energy electron fluxes, and solar proton events have been examined. Also, we have analyzed correlations with the geomagnetic indices as indirect indicators of the space weather condition. Regularities found in this study suggest that further detailed studies of space weather effects on launcher systems, especially in the high-latitude regions, should be performed.

Anomalous 10Be spikes during the Maunder Minimum: Possible evidence for extreme space weather in the heliosphere

Extreme space weather conditions pose significant problems for standard space weather models, which are available for some limited realistic parameter ranges. As a good example, anomalous spikes of cosmic ray induced 10Be have been found during the Maunder Minimum (AD1645–1715) at the qA negative solar minima, which cannot be quantitatively explained by standard drift theories of cosmic ray transport alone. Such an extreme amplification of solar cycle modulation of cosmic rays is presumably related to the altered condition of heliospheric environment at the prolonged sunspot disappearance, providing a clue for comprehensive understandings of long‐term changes in heliospheric environment, solar cycle modulation of cosmic rays, and the maximal range of incident cosmic ray flux that is very important for our practical space activities. Model sophistication to achieve precise forecast of such extreme condition of the heliosphere and the incoming cosmic ray flux is also of urgent need as the Sun is currently showing a tendency toward lower activity. Here we show that the cosmic ray spikes found at the Maunder Minimum may be explained by the contribution from the cross‐sector transport mechanism working in the heliosheath where cosmic ray particles effectively drift across stacked magnetic sectors due to the larger cyclotron radius than the distance between the sectors. Based on the new interpretation of the 10Be record, we clarify potentially important problems for space weather modelers to help with more realistic modeling of the heliosphere during periods of extremely weak solar activity, such as the Maunder Minimum.

Anik‐E1 and E2 satellite failures of January 1994 revisited

The consecutive failures of the geosynchronous Anik‐E1 communication satellite on January 20, 1994, and Anik‐E2 about nine hours later on January 21 (both incidents occurred on January 20 local time) received considerable publicity because the malfunctions of the satellites disrupted television and computer data transmissions across Canada, as well as telephone services to remote northern communities for hours. This often‐cited event is revisited here with materials not covered before. Using publicly available information, Anik‐E failure details, media coverage, recovery effort and cost incurred are first presented. This is then followed by scrutiny of space weather conditions pertinent to the occurrences of the Anik‐E upsets. We trace the space weather episode's inception on the Sun, propagation through interplanetary medium, and manifestation in magnetic field variations as well as in energetic electron flux increases, and its eventual impact on the Anik‐Es. The genesis of the energetic electron enhancements that have been blamed for the satellite malfunctions is thus traceable via high‐speed solar wind stream with Alfven wave fluctuations to a longitudinally wide coronal hole on the Sun. Furthermore, strong magnetic pulsations preceding electron flux peaks indicate Pc5 ULF (Ultra Low Frequency) waves as a probable acceleration mechanism for the energetic electron flux enhancement that resulted in the internal charging of the Anik‐Es. The magnetic fluctuations may even be possible triggers for the subsequent discharge that caused the satellites to malfunction. This incident illustrates that satellite operators should be on alert for elevated high‐energy electron environment that is above established thresholds, as specifications in satellite design may not render a satellite immune from internal charging.

The Engineering Radiation Monitor for the Radiation Belt Storm Probes Mission

An Engineering Radiation Monitor (ERM) has been developed as a supplementary spacecraft subsystem for NASA’s Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission. The ERM will monitor total dose and deep dielectric charging at each RBSP spacecraft in real time. Configured to take the place of spacecraft balance mass, the ERM contains an array of eight dosimeters and two buried conductive plates. The dosimeters are mounted under covers of varying shielding thickness to obtain a dose-depth curve and characterize the electron and proton contributions to total dose. A 3-min readout cadence coupled with an initial sensitivity of ∼0.01 krad should enable dynamic measurements of dose rate throughout the 9-hr RBSP orbit. The dosimeters are Radiation-sensing Field Effect Transistors (RadFETs) and operate at zero bias to preserve their response even when powered off. The range of the RadFETs extends above 1000 krad to avoid saturation over the expected duration of the mission. Two large-area (∼10 cm2) charge monitor plates set behind different thickness covers will measure the dynamic currents of weakly-penetrating electrons that can be potentially hazardous to sensitive electronic components within the spacecraft. The charge monitors can handle large events without saturating (∼3000 fA/cm2) and provide sufficient sensitivity (∼0.1 fA/cm2) to gauge quiescent conditions. High time-resolution (5 s) monitoring allows detection of rapid changes in flux and enables correlation of spacecraft anomalies with local space weather conditions. Although primarily intended as an engineering subsystem to monitor spacecraft radiation levels, real-time data from the ERM may also prove useful or interesting to a larger community.

How likely is a space weather-induced U.S. power grid catastrophe? JASON weighs in

How likely is a space weather-induced U.S. power grid catastrophe? JASON weighs in

Geomagnetically induced currents in the New Zealand power network

Adverse space weather conditions have been shown to be directly responsible for faults within power networks at high latitudes. A number of studies have also shown space weather to impact power networks at lower latitudes, although most of these studies show increases in GIC activity within networks not directly related to hardware faults. This study examines a GIC event that occurred in New Zealand's South Island power network on 6th November 2001. A transformer failure that occurred during this day is shown to be associated with a change in the solar wind dynamic pressure of nearly 20 nPa. Measurements of GICs recorded on the neutral lines of transformers across the Transpower network during this event show good correlation with a GIC‐index, a proxy for the geoelectric field that drives GIC. Comparison of this event with GIC activity observed in the Transpower network during large space weather storms such as the “2003 Halloween storm,” suggests that solar wind shocks and associated geomagnetic sudden impulse (SI) events may be as hazardous to middle latitude power networks as GIC activity occurring during the main phase of large storms. Further, this study suggests that the latitudinal dependence of the impacts of SI events on power systems differs from that observed during large main phase storms. This study also highlights the importance of operating procedures for large space weather events, even at middle latitude locations.

Efficiency of solar wind energy coupling to the ionosphere

We present a statistical investigation into the variations of the ionospheric energy coupling efficiencies with the solar wind energy input, the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) clock angle and the solar wind dynamic pressure. The ionospheric energy coupling efficiencies are defined as the ratios of the ionospheric energy deposition (namely auroral precipitation, Joule heating, and their total) to the solar wind energy input. We find that the ionospheric energy coupling efficiencies decrease exponentially with the solar wind energy input. Moreover, it is the same case under geomagnetic storm conditions. Our results also show that the energy coupling efficiencies are dependent on the IMF clock angle and almost independent of the solar wind dynamic pressure. These results will help us estimate and predict energy transfer from the solar wind to the thermosphere‐ionosphere system under extreme space weather conditions, particularly severe geomagnetic storms.

Charting a Path Toward Improved Space Weather Forecasting

Space weather forecasting is still in its infancy, but there have been enormous advances in the past 15 years. First-principles and physics-based models are now assimilating data, providing forecasts and “nowcasts” of space weather conditions surrounding Earth. Space weather products for end users are growing in sophistication and utility and are often accompanied by useful visual displays (Simpson, 2004). Several sources of space weather forecasts exist today, including research products and operational forecasts from civilian and Department of Defense sources. As the space weather community works toward a comprehensive “Sun-to-mud” forecasting capability, it is natural to expect challenging initial steps, similar to what occurred in terrestrial forecasting more than 50 years ago (Siscoe, 2006). This should not deter the implementation of first-principles-based forecasting for the upper atmosphere, magnetosphere, and ground-induced currents, augmented by data-driven methods where appropriate. Consider, for example, forecasting upper atmosphere disruptions following detection of a coronal mass ejection (CME) near the Sun. The community should seize the moment to establish an ambitious program of forecasting that takes advantage of the lead time available (usually 1-3 days) after a CME has been first detected. Forecasting geomagnetic storms due to high-speed streams is likely less challenging, with potentially longer lead times. The progress made so far has come from transitioning research models into operational environments. As the community works to expand capabilities, it is time to ask whether “transition to operations” is the appropriate paradigm for advancing the field. Once a research model has been transitioned, what are the next steps? Successful implementation of a space weather forecasting capability requires a vibrant research community focused on improving forecasts. Such a community will, of course, help transition models (Tobiska, 2009; Araujo-Pradere, 2009), but it will also continue to develop and improve those models that have already been transitioned. New scientific insights and tools will be developed in the process. In terrestrial weather, the research divisions of the operational centers produce “reanalyses” that are variants of the operational models run in postprocessing to produce long-term consistent estimates of the atmospheric state. These reanalyses have found widespread use in scientific investigations of the atmosphere, demonstrating that activities related to operations can benefit pure research. The operational models all began as research codes, but their use in applied research brings new benefits. Positive feedback from operations to research is not surprising since models are often used to gain scientific insights. Now is a critical time to exercise vision and plan for an era when space weather forecasting undergoes continuous refinement and improvement, providing both operational benefits and new scientific advances. The implementation of a more comprehensive forecasting capability should begin immediately, with the idea of improving forecasts as new scientific knowledge is gained and as operational results are assessed by a broad community. Improving forecasts is an ongoing challenge, requiring enhanced physical understanding as represented in the models, data-driven techniques where needed, and effective observational systems. Advancements in forecasting require both the dedicated involvement of the scientific community and the existence of an applied research community. To achieve this, a stable but evolving forecasting infrastructure, accessible to the broader scientific community, is required. Such an infrastructure can serve as a focal point for model development and expanded observational systems. The space science community should give serious thought to how we will transition from an era of “first implementation” to an era of continuous improvement. So much has been accomplished. Let us start preparing today for the next great frontier in space weather research. The author wishes to acknowledge Attila Komjathy for a careful reading of this opinion. This research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with NASA. Anthony J. Mannucci is supervisor of the Ionospheric and Atmospheric Remote Sensing Group at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif., USA. E-mail: tony.mannucci@jpl.nasa.gov.

Space Weather and Natural Hazards

Space weather occupied an important place in AGU's inaugural Science Policy Conference (http://sites.agu.org/spconference/). The conference was held 30 April to 2 May in Washington, D. C., with four tracks-the Arctic, natural hazards, natural resources, and oceans-and space weather rightly occupied a slot in the natural hazards track. This was the natural location for space weather, as the solar and terrestrial space environments are indeed hazards to the successful operations of many current-day technical systems, from communications to electricity to navigation to resource exploration. The diversity of technical and nontechnical papers related to applications of space research published in this journal reflects the hazards and potential solutions. Space weather is one of the “grand challenges” for disaster reduction that has been included in the National Science and Technology Council's Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction (e.g., http://www.sdr.gov/185820_Space_FINAL.pdf). The space weather session at the conference was composed of a panel of four speakers plus a moderator, who, among them, addressed the outstanding contemporary issues facing the design, implementation, and operations of technical systems. History shows that space weather processes often provide implementation and operational surprises of new electrical technologies in essential industries, including communications (landline and cable, satellite-based, ocean cable, wireless over a very wide frequency band), electric power distribution, navigation (GPS, magnetic), and resource exploration (ground-based, aerial). The historical record also demonstrates that as the complexity of systems increases, including their interconnectedness and interoperability, the systems can become more susceptible to space weather effects. Understanding of the solar and terrestrial space environments has grown in parallel with the increasing complexity of the systems affected by these environments. This growth in fundamental understanding has been necessary in order to design, implement, and operate robust systems under adverse space weather conditions. These topics were all addressed by the panelists at the conference, as well as in the question and answer period. Contemporary examples of concerns and of possible mitigation techniques were presented. A particularly interesting example of mitigation techniques are the revolutionary uses of navigation and the design challenges posed by space weather with “precision” farming that uses GPS technology. Those of us who have worked for years in various aspects of space weather-from pure research to detailed engineering applications of knowledge acquired-have long known that studies of the solar-terrestrial environment were not just intellectually challenging but also critical to the successful implementation and operation of essential technical elements of contemporary society. Thus, the policy issues involved with space weather research as fostered by AGU through its meetings and publications certainly deserved to be highlighted at this inaugural Science Policy Conference in our nation's capital. I look forward to space weather being similarly featured in future forums where important policy matters arising from contemporary frontier research are featured. Louis J. Lanzerotti is editor of Space Weather and a distinguished research professor of physics at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark (ljl@njit.edu). He is retired from Lucent Technologies Bell Laboratories.

Ionospheric anomalies observed over South Korea preceding the Great Tohoku earthquake of 2011

We investigated the ionospheric anomalies observed before the Tohoku earthquake, which occurred near the northeast coast of Honshu, Japan on 11 March, 2011. Based on data from a ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS) network on the Korean Peninsula, ionospheric anomalies were detected in the total electron content (TEC) during the daytime a few days before earthquake. Ionospheric TEC anomalies appeared on 5, 8 and 11 March. In particular, the ionospheric disturbances on 8 March evidenced a remarkable increase in TEC. The GPS TEC variation associated with the Tohoku earthquake was an increase of approximately 20 total electron content units (TECU), observed simultaneously in local and global TEC measurements. To investigate these pre-earthquake ionospheric anomalies, space weather conditions such as the solar activity index (F10.7) and geomagnetic activity indices (the Kp and Dst indices) were examined. We also created two-dimensional TEC maps to visual the spatial variations in the ionospheric anomalies preceding the earthquake.

Transforming community access to space science models

Researching and forecasting the ever changing space environment (often referred to as space weather) and its influence on humans and their activities are model‐intensive disciplines. This is true because the physical processes involved are complex, but, in contrast to terrestrial weather, the supporting observations are typically sparse. Models play a vital role in establishing a physically meaningful context for interpreting limited observations, testing theory, and producing both nowcasts and forecasts. For example, with accurate forecasting of hazardous space weather conditions, spacecraft operators can place sensitive systems in safe modes, and power utilities can protect critical network components from damage caused by large currents induced in transmission lines by geomagnetic storms.

Radiation Effects on a Potential Scintillation-Based Solid-State Spectrometer Prototype for Compact Monitoring of Space Radiation/Weather Satellite Conditions

New and emerging scintillators, such as DPA (Diphenylanthracene) and CLYC (Cs2LiYCl6:Ce), coupled with Solid-State Photomultipliers (SSPM) provide a lightweight, low voltage, potentially radiation hard spectrometer for real-time monitoring of space weather conditions. This paper presents the results from proton radiation-hardness tests conducted for candidate scintillators and for individual cells of 1 cm2 SSPMs. Decreases from original light outputs were observed for samples of DPA and CLYC by 4% and 28% respectively with a dose of 1 kGy . Following 1 kGy exposure to the SSPMs, the dark current increased by a factor of ~ 32 for a reverse bias of 30 V. The effects of room temperature annealing on the dark current were also monitored. Decreases in quantum efficiency (22% for 420 nm and 7% for 535 nm) and light response (33% for 420 nm and 26% for 535 nm) were observed as a possible result of the formation of surface recombination-generation centers. The energy resolution of a LYSO scintillator sample coupled with a SSPM and measured for a 22Na gamma source (E = 511 kev) decreased from 15% pre-irradiation to 34% post 1 kGy irradiation.

Imaging interplanetary CMEs at radio frequency from solar polar orbit

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) represent a great concentration of mass and energy input into the lower corona. They have come to be recognized as the major driver of physical conditions change in the Sun–Earth system. Consequently, observations of CMEs are important for understanding and ultimately predicting space weather conditions. This paper discusses a proposed mission, the Solar Polar Orbit Radio Telescope (SPORT) mission, which will observe the propagation of interplanetary CMEs to distances of near 0.35 AU from the Sun. The orbit of SPORT is an elliptical solar polar orbit. The inclination angle between the orbit and ecliptic plane should be about 90°. The main payload on board SPORT will be an imaging radiometer working at the meter wavelength band (radio telescope), which can follow the propagation of interplanetary CMEs. The images that are obtained by the radio telescope embody the brightness temperature of the objectives. Due to the very large size required for the antenna aperture of the radio telescope, we adopt interferometric imaging technology to reduce it. Interferometric imaging technology is based on indirect spatial frequency domain measurements plus Fourier transformation. The SPORT spacecraft will also be equipped with a set of optical and in situ measurement instruments such as a EUV solar telescope, a solar wind ion instrument, an energetic particle detector, a magnetometer, a wave detector and a solar radio burst spectrometer.