*E. Sagawa[1]
,K. Ohtaka [1],T. Onsager [2],T. J. Immel [3]
H. Frey [3],S. Mende [3]
Communications Research Laboratory[1]
NOAA/SEC[2]
Space Science Laboratory, UC Berkeley[3]
The IMAGE satellite launched in March, 2000 has a unique capability
to send the low-speed real-time data as a basis of its public
outreach program. The data-stream contains global auroral images
taken with the FUV instrument. With NOAA and the IMAGE Science
team, CRL have set up the ground system to process the real-time
IMAGE telemetry stream, and producing auroral images in mostly
real-time.
The IMAGE satellite has a capability of sending real-time data stream (44kbps) to the ground when it is not contacted with a DSN station. It contains data from all instruments aboard the satellite including the Far Ultra Violet imager (FUV). FUV takes auroral images at three wavelengths with 2 minutes time resolution. We have been setting up a system for receiving IMAGE real-time data stream as frequently as possible. CRL is operating its 11 m antenna during night time, while NOAA and UC Berkeley tracks the satellite at Fairbanks, AL and San Francisco, CA. Data received at these stations are exchanged through computer at NOAA/SEC. Software necessary for processing data has been developed with the support from the IMAGE science team. The software package is able to produce aurora images taken with FUV at three wavelengths. These images provide useful information for the current activity of the magnetosphere, and are very valuable for space weather forecasting. Also, the aurora images are accessible through WWW servers located at each ground stations. Although these images are useful by themselves, the FUV instrument is capable to provide quantitative information about precipitating particles into the atmosphere. In near future, we will incorporate more elaborate product based on FUV aurora images. For example, by using images at N2 LBH band and OI (135.6 nm), we can estimate average energy inputs by precipitating electrons, and images taken at Doppler-shifted Lyman-alpha (121.8 nm) provides information about proton precipitation. Also planned is to add more real-time images taken with other instruments (EUV imager, neutral particle imagers, radio sounder).