Publication: Functionality and validation of electron temperature & density probe (tenep) for mysat
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Date
2022-04-01
Authors
Abdul Latif, Muhammad Aadam
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Abstract
Malaysia Youth Satellite (MYSAT) is a scientific 1U CubeSat project initiated by the School of Aerospace Engineering Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2016. The objective of the MYSAT mission is to measure accurate electron temperature and density in the E-layer of the ionosphere by a CubeSat. This mission is driven by a study that reported that earthquake precursors could be analysed from the ionosphere. One of the common features shown from ionosphere data measurement from several earthquakes is the electron density. MYSAT, a CubeSat based on a 1U platform, could contribute to this ongoing research by developing a device that measures the floating potential shift (𝛥𝑉f) characteristics of an electrode immersed in plasma. The 𝛥𝑉f characteristic of the plasma will then be retrieved from the device where the plasma’s electron temperature (𝑇e) together with the density (𝑁e) can be acquired. Hence, an already developed Electron Temperature and Density Probe (TeNeP) system design based on a 2U platform has been investigated its functionality and validated for MYSAT’s 1U based platform. A CMRR validation, amplifier gain measurement and 𝑇e simulation testing using germanium diode and resistor have been conducted to analyse the performance of the developed TeNeP. The results give the average value of 𝑇e = 2930 K with floating potential ratio R = 3.05. The values have been proven to be reliable by comparing it with the curve of floating potential ratio against 𝑇e. TeNeP circuit is then ready for probe impedance test and prepared for flight model testing in the plasma chamber.