Focusing on size and energy dependence of electron microbursts from the Van Allen radiation belts

Abstract

Focused Investigations of Relativistic Electron Burst Intensity, Range, and Dynamics (FIREBIRD), a space weather-targeted and goal-directed mission supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, will launch into a high-inclination, low-Earth orbit in October 2013 as a secondary payload under NASAs Educational Launch of Nanosatellites program. FIREBIRD is a dual CubeSat mission that is designed to resolve the spatial scale size and energy dependence of electron microbursts from the Van Allen radiation belts. The FIREBIRD mission embodies the CubeSat ideal: high scientific return provided at low cost through focused and novel investigation of an unexplored yet important phenomenon in a region easily accessed by nanosatellites. © 2012. The American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.