The Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) and Space Weather

• Published in: Space science reviews Vol. 179; no. 1-4; pp. 531 - 543
• Main Authors: Kessel, R. L., Fox, N. J., Weiss, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.11.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Astrophysics; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Broadcasting; Launches; Nowcasting; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Planetology; Probes; Radiation; Radiation belts; Real time; Scientific apparatus & instruments; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space probes; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Space weather; Spacecraft; Storms; Space weather; Radiation Belt Storm Probes; Geomagnetic storms; RBSP
• ISSN: 0038-6308; 1572-9672
• DOI: 10.1007/s11214-012-9953-6

Following the launch and commissioning of NASA’s Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) in 2012, space weather data will be generated and broadcast from the spacecraft in near real-time. The RBSP mission targets one part of the space weather chain: the very high energy electrons and ions magnetically trapped within Earth’s radiation belts. The understanding gained by RBSP will enable us to better predict the response of the radiation belts to solar storms in the future, and thereby protect space assets in the near-Earth environment. This chapter details the presently planned RBSP capabilities for generating and broadcasting near real-time space weather data, discusses the data products, the ground stations collecting the data, and the users/models that will incorporate the data into test-beds for radiation belt nowcasting and forecasting.