Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Objectives The Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) conducts research and education in space physics, space technology and atmospheric physics. This includes: • Basic research in space plasma physics (e.g. magnetospheric- and ionospheric physics) and polar atmospheric science. • Applied research in signal analysis, sensor technology and satellite technology.
www.irf.se
Swedish Institute of Space Physics
• Established in 1957 as Kiruna Geophysical Observatory (Swedish Academy of Sciences). • State-owned research institute since 1973 (under the Ministry of Education).
Offices in: • Kiruna (head office - at the Space Campus) • Umeå (Technology Building, Umeå University) • Uppsala (Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University) • Lund (IDEON Science & Technology Park)
Unmanned Lycksele Ionospheric Observatory inland from Umeå.
www.irf.se
Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Research and observatory activities
Four research programmes: • Polar Atmospheric Research (Kiruna) • Solar Terrestrial Physics (Kiruna, Uppsala, Lund) • Solar System Physics and Space Technology (Kiruna) • Space Plasma Physics (Uppsala)
Observatory activities with these instruments: • magnetometers • riometers • all-sky camera • ionosondes
Continuous measurements are also made of: • Atmospheric trace gases (e.g. ozone) • Atmospheric winds • Infra-sound
www.irf.se
Swedish Institute of Space Physics
IRF conducts experimental and theoretical research.
Measurements are made with the help of satellites, balloons and ground- based equipment.
IRF takes part in several large international collaborative projects.
Ground-based systems: • ALIS (Auroral Large Imaging System) - light-sensitive cameras for auroral studies
• EISCAT (European Incoherent Scatter) - radar system for meteor- and ionospheric studies
• ESRAD - MST radar for atmospheric studies
• MARA - moveable atmospheric radar deployed in Antarctica
www.irf.se
Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Education
Contribute to space engineering courses in Kiruna and to space physics courses in Umeå, Uppsala and Lund.
PhD students enrolled at LTU and the universities in Umeå, Uppsala and Lund. Partner in the Graduate School of Space Technology (LTU). 15 PhD students from IRF have graduated under the auspices of the GSST in rounds 1 and 2.
www.irf.se
Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Sounding rocket experiments • From Esrange and other sites from early 1960s to 1986 - primarily auroral studies
Earlier satellite projects • IRF’s first satellite instrument launched on ESRO 1 in 1968 - magnetospheric studies
• Instruments on the first Swedish research satellites (Viking, 1986; Freja, 1992) - magnetospheric studies
• Instrument ASPERA on Phobos (Soviet mission to Mars and its moon Phobos), 1988 - IRF’s first instrument to another planet
• Instruments on the Swedish microsatellites (Astrid-1, 1995; Astrid-2, 1998) - magnetospheric studies
• IRF’s own nanosatellite Munin (6kg), launched 2000 - magnetospheric studies (auroral zone) www.irf.se
Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Recent completed missions • Double Star (2004) - ESA/China project for magnetospheric studies (IRF Co-I on instrument NUADU)
• Chandrayaan-1 (2008) - an Indian mission to the Moon (IRF PI on instrument SARA)
• Prisma (2010) - Swedish satellites developed by SSC (IRF’s instrument PRIMA tested a TOF mass spectrometer using MEMS technology)
www.irf.se
Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Major on-going satellite missions • Cassini (1997) - NASA/ESA mission to Saturn and its moon Titan (LAP is part of the plasma package on board)
• Cluster (2000) - ESA mission for magnetospheric studies (EFW instrument on each of the 4 satellites)
• Mars Express (2003) - ESA mission to study Mars (ASPERA-3 instrument - solar wind impact on Martian atmosphere)
• Rosetta (2004) - ESA mission to study a comet (LAP and ICA) • Venus Express (2005) - ESA mission for studies of Venus (ASPERA-4 - solar wind impact on Venusian atmosphere)
www.irf.se Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Forthcoming missions • MMS (Magnetospheric MultiScale) - NASA mission with 4 satellites for magnetospheric studies (launch 2015) • BepiColombo - ESA/Japanese mission to Mercury - instruments on both JAXA’s MMO and ESA’s MPO, 3 instruments in total (launch 2016) • JUICE - ESA mission to Jupiter’s icy moons - two IRF-led instruments (launch 2022)
Earth MagneticEarth Field Lines Earth
Solar Wind
www.irf.se Comparative magnetospheric studies • How the environment affects the planet’s evolution
Jupiter Mercury
Moon
Saturn Venus Earth Mars Comets www.irf.se
Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Summary
The Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) • conducts basic research and postgraduate education in: - space plasma physics - space technology - atmospheric physics
• conducts observatory activities related to space plasma physics
• contributes to university undergraduate education: - space engineering (Luleå University of Technology) - space physics (Umeå and Uppsala Universities) - solar physics (Lund University)
www.irf.se