1. SSUSI and SSUSI-Lite Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager on DMSP and Beyond
SEASONS Conference
Dr. Larry J. Paxton
SSUSI Principal Investigator and
Head of Geospace and Earth Science Group
Bob Schaefer, John Hicks, Yongliang Zhang, Ethan Miller, Bernie Ogorzalek, Brian Wolven, Guiseppe Romeo and the SSUSI Team

2. What is Space Weather?

3. Solar Energetic Particle Chain
Solar radiation Chain
Solar Wind/Magnetospheric Chain
This picture is the result of nearly a century of observations from ground and space-based sensors.
Much of the “big picture” is still studied as individual elements. We need this highly focused research to provide a firm foundation to build upon but now is the time to add a new “integrative” transdisciplinary axis to our investigations.
Our challenge is to assemble this into a coherent coupled vision that is both meaningful to an outside person and compelling to our own research community. CEDAR has had a big role in filling in the elements in this mosaic and can have a big role in determining how we view the system as a whole.
Lower Atmospheric Chain

4. What is Space Weather?

5. What is Space Weather?
Space weather is the departure of the space environment from the average or climatological mean.
There may be seasonal or longer term variations in the average conditions (e.g. solar cycle or seasonal effects).
These variations have impacts on human systems.
Establishing global climatology and the variations about those mean conditions enables us to design a cost-effective, robust system.
We must combine “good enough” scientific understanding with appropriate technology to produce a useful solution.

6. Ionosphere Impacts on C4ISR
Nearly all C4ISR activities involving RF and space assets (or targets) are susceptible to ionospheric space weather effects to varying degrees.
Many effects consitute small risk factors, analogous to wind impacts on aircraft fuel burn, that may impact mission success.
However, even apparently minor irregularities of the ionosphere may have severe impact on casualties, order of battle, and OUTCOMES: e.g., Takur-Ghar.
Ionospheric effects
Refraction (bending) introduces position error in Doppler or single- site location, over-the-horizon radar techniques.
Delays introduce ranging errors.
Irregularities blind or dazzle radars with clutter, scramble nav/com signals (“scintillations”).
Regions of scintillation, radar clutter
The goal of the SSUSI-Lite program is to demonstrate that we can achieve a cost-effective data continuity solution for providing space weather products to the warfighter. The Nation has made an investment of over $80M to build a capability. The SSUSI-Lite program enables use to maintain the data continuity: the SSUSI software was written to be readily ported to other systems and translated into other programming languages.
The SSUSI-Lite program will ensure that we can continue to provide the products in Table xx. These products are described in the JROCM memo dated 15 June SSUSI-Lite will enable a cost-effective solution that can fly on more platforms at lower cost and remedy current coverage and ground repeat issues.
Note: Category A – insufficiently met by space and ground-based systems which may potentially lead to mission failure. Category B – parameters not fully met. Category C – parameters sufficiently met by current systems.

7. SSUSI can Help Operators Distinguish Environmental from Deliberate Effects
Space Capability Joint Effect
Environmental Cause
Environmental Effects
Potential Warfighter Impacts
Precision Engagement
Ionospheric scintillation, ionospheric refraction
Degraded GPS (or alternative navigation) system performance
GPS guided weapons miss target, increased collateral damage/civilian casualties
Intelligence
Aurora, upper atmospheric density change, ionospheric refraction and scintillation
Decreased intelligence system performance
Inaccurate enemy position data
Spacecraft anomaly assessment
Solar/Magnetospheric particle radiation, Upper atmospheric density change, ionospheric refraction and scintillation
Satellite system anomalies, increased operational downtime of space system
Decreased operational space system utility (GPS, Space-Base Infra-Red System (SBIRS), Space Radar (SR), etc.)
Attack Assessment
Solar/Magnetosphere particle radiation, auroral, upper atmospheric and ionospheric changes
Enemy and friendly weapon system performance degradation
Inability to meet attack assessment timelines, inability to distinguish hostile attack from natural effects
SSUSI Environmental Data Records shown in RED

8. SSUSI can Help Operators Distinguish Environmental from Deliberate Effects
Space Capability Joint Effect
Environmental Cause
Environmental Effects
Potential Warfighter Impacts
Comms on the Move
Ionospheric scintillation, ionospheric refraction
Degraded/broken communication link, anomalous radio wave propagation
Loss of command and control, lives/missions at risk
Space situational awareness
Upper atmospheric density change, ionospheric refraction and scintillation
Inaccurate space object identification and tracking
Space object collision (e.g. shuttle), inaccurate enemy space force position
Missile Warhead Detection/ Tracking/ Intercept
Aurora, upper atmospheric density change, ionospheric refraction and scintillation, clouds, atmospheric attenuation
Degraded warhead detection and tracking
Decreased probability of missile intercept, lives at risk
SSUSI Environmental Data Records shown in RED

9. SSUSI Heritage and Relationship to Other Programs

10. SSUSI Heritage and Relationship to Other Programs

11. FUV Spectral Region Exhibits the Signatures of Space Weather
HI (121.6 nm)
OI (130.4 nm)
OI (135.6 nm)
N2 (LBHs)
N2 (LBHl)
Dayside Limb
H profiles and escape rate1
Amount of O2 absorption1
O altitude profile
Amount of O2 as seen in absorption
N2, Temperature
Dayside Disk
Column H
Used with LBHs to form O/N2
N2, Solar EUV
Solar EUV
Nightside Limb
H profile and escape rate
Ion/ENA precipitation
EDP
HmF2
NmF2
Tplasma
Ion/ENA precipitation characteristic energy
Nightside Disk
Geocorna and Ion/ENA precipitation
òne2ds (line of sight) and
ònedz (vertical TEC)
Auroral Zone
Region of proton precipitation
Auroral Boundary and amount of column O2 present1
Region of electron and (possibly) proton precipitation
Used with LBHl to form Eo and the ionization rate and conductance information
Hemispheric power
Radar clutter
Charging
Measure of the effective precipitating flux, used with LBHl to form Eo and the ionization rate and conductance information

12. FUV Spectral Region Exhibits the Signatures of Space Weather
HI (121.6 nm)
OI (130.4 nm)
OI (135.6 nm)
N2 (LBHs)
N2 (LBHl)
Dayside Limb
H profiles and escape rate1
Amount of O2 absorption1
O altitude profile
Amount of O2 as seen in absorption
N2, Temperature
Dayside Disk
Column H
Used with LBHs to form O/N2
N2, Solar EUV
Solar EUV
Nightside Limb
H profile and escape rate
Ion/ENA precipitation
EDP
HmF2
NmF2
Tplasma
Ion/ENA precipitation characteristic energy
Nightside Disk
Geocorna and Ion/ENA precipitation
òne2ds (line of sight) and
ònedz (vertical TEC)
Auroral Zone
Region of proton precipitation
Auroral Boundary and amount of column O2 present1
Region of electron and (possibly) proton precipitation
Used with LBHl to form Eo and the ionization rate and conductance information
Hemispheric power
Radar clutter
Charging
Measure of the effective precipitating flux, used with LBHl to form Eo and the ionization rate and conductance information

13. FUV Spectral Region Exhibits the Signatures of Space Weather
HI (121.6 nm)
OI (130.4 nm)
OI (135.6 nm)
N2 (LBHs)
N2 (LBHl)
Dayside Limb
H profiles and escape rate1
Amount of O2 absorption1
O altitude profile
Amount of O2 as seen in absorption
N2, Temperature
Dayside Disk
Column H
Used with LBHs to form O/N2
N2, Solar EUV
Solar EUV
Nightside Limb
H profile and escape rate
Ion/ENA precipitation
EDP
HmF2
NmF2
Tplasma
Ion/ENA precipitation characteristic energy
Nightside Disk
Geocorna and Ion/ENA precipitation
òne2ds (line of sight) and
ònedz (vertical TEC)
Auroral Zone
Region of proton precipitation
Auroral Boundary and amount of column O2 present1
Region of electron and (possibly) proton precipitation
Used with LBHl to form Eo and the ionization rate and conductance information
Hemispheric power
Radar clutter
Charging
Measure of the effective precipitating flux, used with LBHl to form Eo and the ionization rate and conductance information

14. APL Combines Heritage, Science, Engineering and Dual-Use Technology
In 1990, SSUSI started out as an experiment on DMSP Block 5D3 (F16-F20). After development of the space weather mission, SSUSI is on the path to operational use.
SSUSI/SSUSI-Lite team understands scientific principles and operational effects.
Over time, the sensor role changed from an instrument that took auroral images to a scientific instrument capable of providing
Auroral images
Auroral energy inputs
Auroral ionospheric products
Ionospheric images
Ionospheric bubble maps
Neutral atmosphere composition
High energy particle precip. maps
Magnetic field maps for s/c charging
Inputs to operational models
We continue to develop new products
Must go beyond “science” to products that directly support decisions and planning.

15. SSUSI has a Unique Ability: 3D Imaging of the Ionosphere
SSUSI scan pattern enables us to recover a 3D image of the ionosphere from the horizon-to-horizon + limb scan information.
About 100,000 line of sight TEC measurement per da per SSUSI

16. SSUSI has a Unique Ability: 3D Imaging of the Ionosphere
SSUSI scan pattern enables us to recover a 3D image of the ionosphere from the horizon-to-horizon + limb scan information.

17. SSUSI has a Unique Ability: 3D Imaging of the Ionosphere
SSUSI scan pattern enables us to recover a 3D image of the ionosphere from the horizon-to-horizon + limb scan information.

18. F19 Allows Us to Trace the Evolution of Ionospheric Bubbles
“Space bubble” forming earlier in the evening (observed by F19 evolves and drifts and is seen later by F18)
F19 SSUSI 6:30 pm
F18 SSUSI 8:00 pm
Bubble grows and drifts
Predictive capability

19. SSUSI-Lite: Smaller, More-Capable SSUSI
SSUSI conceptual design is solid and still meets requirements
Technologies have changed.
SSUSI-Lite demonstrated that we could be build a new, better version of SSUSI.
Focused on the electronics
TRL 6 demonstration of electronics and scan mechanism
Greater flexibility and on-board processing
½ the mass and ½ the power – greater capability
Uses heritage algorithms to produce products for warfighter – high reuse of code
A new version could be even lighter and smaller

20. SSUSI Images the Invisible
The full potential of operational SSUSI is not yet available to users.
SSUSI and SSUSI-Lite provide a fine-scale view of the ionosphere
APL has developed models that can exploit the native SSUSI/SSUSI-Lite resolution.
Flexible scan pattern with SSUSI-Lite can be optimized on-the-fly for theater-level products w/realtime downlink and processing at the local site

21. GPS-RO and SSUSI/SSUSI-Lite: A Powerful Combination
GPS total electron content (TEC) and radio occultation (RO) are other sensors widely used to drive operational models.
Strengths are low unit cost, synergy with other activities (geodesy, tectonics, meteorology)
Weaknesses are coverage (and total cost to achieve coverage), inability to locate scintillation-causing regions unambiguously; provides little information about aurora.
SSUSI-Lite plus GPS occultation is a powerful combination.

22. Ice-Free Arctic Will Become a Theater of Interest
From DoD Arctic Strategy –November 2013: “This strategy identifies the Department’s desired end-state for the Arctic: a secure and stable region where U.S. national interests are safeguarded, the U.S. homeland is protected, and nations work cooperatively to address challenges. It also articulates two main supporting objectives: Ensure security, support safety, and promote defense cooperation, and prepare to respond to a wide range of challenges and contingencies—”

23. SSUSI Maps the Polar Region
SSUSIs combine to map the polar region
F19 adds information about polar aurora extent and evolution
11/16/2014 – UT
F19
F18

24. SSUSI is the Only Sensor Providing Global Scale Auroral Imagery
Region of potential radar clutter.
Radar, comm, and navigation are affected by aurora overhead or along the propagation path

25. SSUSI: Past, Present and Future
The SSUSI program embodies many of the best qualities of APL
Long term commitment to a program of national importance
Highest quality possible commensurate with a cost-effective approach
Commitment to deliver products to the user community
Commitment to connecting research and applications communities
The next SSUSI is slated for launch on DMSP F20
Currently slated for late 2016
F20 satellite is ready to go but was the first built
SSUSI-Lite is the next step in the evolution of the APL sensor line
Half the mass, power and volume with more capability
Supports next-gen algorithms and beyond
Builds on 75,000 lines of operational code already running operationally
Flexible design can be accommodated on a variety of platforms including small satellites and hosted payloads
Could provide information in real-time for tailored local products.

27. Needs Identified in JROCM 091-12
Cat A measurements
Ionospheric profiles(Day and Night)
Scintillation maps
Auroral characterization
LEO Energetic Particles
Neutral Density Profiles
Temperatures
Cat B measurements
The goal of the SSUSI-Lite program is to demonstrate that we can achieve a cost-effective data continuity solution for providing space weather products to the warfighter. The Nation has made an investment of over $80M to build a capability. The SSUSI-Lite program enables use to maintain the data continuity: the SSUSI software was written to be readily ported to other systems and translated into other programming languages.
The SSUSI-Lite program will ensure that we can continue to provide the products in Table xx. These products are described in the JROCM memo dated 15 June SSUSI-Lite will enable a cost-effective solution that can fly on more platforms at lower cost and remedy current coverage and ground repeat issues.
Note: Category A – insufficiently met by space and ground-based systems which may potentially lead to mission failure. Category B – parameters not fully met. Category C – parameters sufficiently met by current systems.

28. What is Space Weather?