NASA spacecraft records 'Earthsong'
October 1, 2012 by Dr. Tony Phillips
NASA spacecraft records 'Earthsong'
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes are on a two-year mission to explore the Van Allen Belts. Credit: Science@NASA
Nobody ever said anything about singing, though. A NASA spacecraft has just beamed back a beautiful song sung by our own planet.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-spacecraft-earthsong.html#jCp
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-spacecraft-earthsong.html#jCp
NASA spacecraft records 'Earthsong'
October 1, 2012 by Dr. Tony Phillips
NASA spacecraft records 'Earthsong'
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes are on a two-year mission to explore the Van Allen Belts. Credit: Science@NASA
Nobody ever said anything about singing, though. A NASA spacecraft has just beamed back a beautiful song sung by our own planet.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-spacecraft-earthsong.html#jCp
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-spacecraft-earthsong.html#jCp
NASA spacecraft records 'Earthsong'
October 1, 2012 by Dr. Tony Phillips
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes are on a two-year mission to explore
the Van Allen Belts. Credit: Science@NASA Nobody ever said anything
about singing, though. A NASA spacecraft has just beamed back a
beautiful song sung by our own planet.
"It's called chorus," explains Craig Kletzing of the University of Iowa. "This is one of the clearest examples we've ever heard." Play the audio Chorus is an electromagnetic phenomenon caused by plasma waves in Earth's radiation belts. For years, ham radio operators on Earth have been listening to them from afar. Now, NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes are traveling through the region of space where chorus actually comes from—and the recordings are out of this world. "This is what the radiation belts would sound like to a human being if we had radio antennas for ears," says Kletzing, whose team at the University of Iowa built the "EMFISIS" (Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science) receiver used to pick up the signals.
"It's called chorus," explains Craig Kletzing of the University of Iowa. "This is one of the clearest examples we've ever heard." Play the audio Chorus is an electromagnetic phenomenon caused by plasma waves in Earth's radiation belts. For years, ham radio operators on Earth have been listening to them from afar. Now, NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes are traveling through the region of space where chorus actually comes from—and the recordings are out of this world. "This is what the radiation belts would sound like to a human being if we had radio antennas for ears," says Kletzing, whose team at the University of Iowa built the "EMFISIS" (Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science) receiver used to pick up the signals.
He's
careful to point out that these are not acoustic waves of the kind that
travel through the air of our planet. Chorus is made of radio waves
that oscillate at acoustic frequencies, between 0 and 10 kHz. The
magnetic search coil antennas of the Radiation Belt Storm Probes are
designed to detect these kinds of waves. "Chorus emissions are front and
center for the Storm Probe mission," says Kletzing. "They are thought
to be one of the most important waves for energizing the electrons that
make up the outer radiation belt.
Each of the two Storm Probes
is bristling with sensors to count energetic particles, measure plasma
waves,
and detect electromagnetic radiation. Credit: NASA In particular,
chorus might be responsible for so-called "killer electrons," high-energy particles that can endanger both satellites and astronauts.
Many electrons in the radiation belts are harmless, with too little
energy to do damage to human or electronic systems. But, sometimes,
these electrons can catch a chorus wave, like a surfer riding a wave on
Earth, and gain enough energy to become dangerous—or so researchers
think.
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes are on a mission to find out for sure. "The production of killer electrons is a matter of much debate, and chorus waves are only one possibility," notes the Storm Probes' mission scientist Dave Sibeck.
Launched in
August 2012, the two probes are orbiting inside the radiation belts,
sampling electromagnetic fields, counting the number of energetic
particles, and listening to plasma waves of many frequencies.
"We hope
to gather enough data to solve the mystery once and for all," says
Sibeck.
At the moment, the spacecraft are still undergoing their 60-day
checkout phase before the main mission begins. So far, things are
checking out very well. "One of things we noticed right away is how
clear the chorus sounds in the recording," notes Kletzing.
That's
because our data is sampled at 16 bits, the same as a CD, which has not
been done before in the radiation belts. This makes the data very high
quality and shows that our instrument is very, very healthy."
Eventually, Kletzing hopes to release unprecedented stereo recordings of
Earth's chorus.
"We have two spacecraft with two receivers," he says,
"so a stereo recording is possible." Such a recording would not only
sound
wonderful, but also have real scientific value.
"One of the things we
don't know is how broad the region is over which chorus occurs. The
widely-separated 'stereo capability' of the Storm Probes will give us
the ability to figure this out," he explains. With a two-year mission
planned for the Storm Probes, the chorus is just getting started.
NASA spacecraft records
'Earthsong'
October 1, 2012 by Dr. Tony Phillips
NASA spacecraft records 'Earthsong'
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes are on a two-year mission to explore the
Van Allen Belts. Credit: Science@NASA
Nobody ever said anything about singing, though. A NASA spacecraft has
just beamed back a beautiful song sung by our own planet.
Ads by Google
Já conheces o MINI ID? - O novo MINI ID é mais igual a ti Mas diferente
dos outros. Sabe mais - www.mini.pt/miniid/
"It's called chorus," explains Craig Kletzing of the University of Iowa.
"This is one of the clearest examples we've ever heard."
Play the audio
Chorus is an electromagnetic phenomenon caused by plasma waves in
Earth's radiation belts. For years, ham radio operators on Earth have
been listening to them from afar. Now, NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm
Probes are traveling through the region of space where chorus actually
comes from—and the recordings are out of this world.
"This is what the radiation belts would sound like to a human being if
we had radio antennas for ears," says Kletzing, whose team at the
University of Iowa built the "EMFISIS" (Electric and Magnetic Field
Instrument Suite and Integrated Science) receiver used to pick up the
signals.
He's careful to point out that these are not acoustic waves of the kind
that travel through the air of our planet. Chorus is made of radio waves
that oscillate at acoustic frequencies, between 0 and 10 kHz. The
magnetic search coil antennas of the Radiation Belt Storm Probes are
designed to detect these kinds of waves.
"Chorus emissions are front and center for the Storm Probe mission,"
says Kletzing. "They are thought to be one of the most important waves
for energizing the electrons that make up the outer radiation belt."
NASA spacecraft records 'Earthsong'
Enlarge
Each of the two Storm Probes is bristling with sensors to count
energetic particles, measure plasma waves, and detect electromagnetic
radiation. Credit: NASA
In particular, chorus might be responsible for so-called "killer
electrons," high-energy particles that can endanger both satellites and
astronauts. Many electrons in the radiation belts are harmless, with too
little energy to do damage to human or electronic systems. But,
sometimes, these electrons can catch a chorus wave, like a surfer riding
a wave on Earth, and gain enough energy to become dangerous—or so
researchers think.
Ads by Google
Brain Training Games - Improve memory and attention with scientific
brain games. - www.lumosity.com
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes are on a mission to find out for sure.
"The production of killer electrons is a matter of much debate, and
chorus waves are only one possibility," notes the Storm Probes' mission
scientist Dave Sibeck.
Launched in August 2012, the two probes are orbiting inside the
radiation belts, sampling electromagnetic fields, counting the number of
energetic particles, and listening to plasma waves of many frequencies.
"We hope to gather enough data to solve the mystery once and for all,"
says Sibeck.
At the moment, the spacecraft are still undergoing their 60-day checkout
phase before the main mission begins. So far, things are checking out
very well.
"One of things we noticed right away is how clear the chorus sounds in
the recording," notes Kletzing. That's because our data is sampled at 16
bits, the same as a CD, which has not been done before in the radiation
belts. This makes the data very high quality and shows that our
instrument is very, very healthy."
Eventually, Kletzing hopes to release unprecedented stereo recordings of
Earth's chorus.
"We have two spacecraft with two receivers," he says, "so a stereo
recording is possible."
Such a recording would not only sound wonderful, but also have real
scientific value. "One of the things we don't know is how broad the
region is over which chorus occurs. The widely-separated 'stereo
capability' of the Storm Probes will give us the ability to figure this
out," he explains.
With a two-year mission planned for the Storm Probes, the chorus is just
getting started.
Provided by NASA search and more info website
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-spacecraft-earthsong.html#jCp
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-spacecraft-earthsong.html#jCp
NASA spacecraft records
'Earthsong'
October 1, 2012 by Dr. Tony Phillips
NASA spacecraft records 'Earthsong'
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes are on a two-year mission to explore the
Van Allen Belts. Credit: Science@NASA
Nobody ever said anything about singing, though. A NASA spacecraft has
just beamed back a beautiful song sung by our own planet.
Ads by Google
Já conheces o MINI ID? - O novo MINI ID é mais igual a ti Mas diferente
dos outros. Sabe mais - www.mini.pt/miniid/
"It's called chorus," explains Craig Kletzing of the University of Iowa.
"This is one of the clearest examples we've ever heard."
Play the audio
Chorus is an electromagnetic phenomenon caused by plasma waves in
Earth's radiation belts. For years, ham radio operators on Earth have
been listening to them from afar. Now, NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm
Probes are traveling through the region of space where chorus actually
comes from—and the recordings are out of this world.
"This is what the radiation belts would sound like to a human being if
we had radio antennas for ears," says Kletzing, whose team at the
University of Iowa built the "EMFISIS" (Electric and Magnetic Field
Instrument Suite and Integrated Science) receiver used to pick up the
signals.
He's careful to point out that these are not acoustic waves of the kind
that travel through the air of our planet. Chorus is made of radio waves
that oscillate at acoustic frequencies, between 0 and 10 kHz. The
magnetic search coil antennas of the Radiation Belt Storm Probes are
designed to detect these kinds of waves.
"Chorus emissions are front and center for the Storm Probe mission,"
says Kletzing. "They are thought to be one of the most important waves
for energizing the electrons that make up the outer radiation belt."
NASA spacecraft records 'Earthsong'
Enlarge
Each of the two Storm Probes is bristling with sensors to count
energetic particles, measure plasma waves, and detect electromagnetic
radiation. Credit: NASA
In particular, chorus might be responsible for so-called "killer
electrons," high-energy particles that can endanger both satellites and
astronauts. Many electrons in the radiation belts are harmless, with too
little energy to do damage to human or electronic systems. But,
sometimes, these electrons can catch a chorus wave, like a surfer riding
a wave on Earth, and gain enough energy to become dangerous—or so
researchers think.
Ads by Google
Brain Training Games - Improve memory and attention with scientific
brain games. - www.lumosity.com
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes are on a mission to find out for sure.
"The production of killer electrons is a matter of much debate, and
chorus waves are only one possibility," notes the Storm Probes' mission
scientist Dave Sibeck.
Launched in August 2012, the two probes are orbiting inside the
radiation belts, sampling electromagnetic fields, counting the number of
energetic particles, and listening to plasma waves of many frequencies.
"We hope to gather enough data to solve the mystery once and for all,"
says Sibeck.
At the moment, the spacecraft are still undergoing their 60-day checkout
phase before the main mission begins. So far, things are checking out
very well.
"One of things we noticed right away is how clear the chorus sounds in
the recording," notes Kletzing. That's because our data is sampled at 16
bits, the same as a CD, which has not been done before in the radiation
belts. This makes the data very high quality and shows that our
instrument is very, very healthy."
Eventually, Kletzing hopes to release unprecedented stereo recordings of
Earth's chorus.
"We have two spacecraft with two receivers," he says, "so a stereo
recording is possible."
Such a recording would not only sound wonderful, but also have real
scientific value. "One of the things we don't know is how broad the
region is over which chorus occurs. The widely-separated 'stereo
capability' of the Storm Probes will give us the ability to figure this
out," he explains.
With a two-year mission planned for the Storm Probes, the chorus is just
getting started.
Provided by NASA search and more info website
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-spacecraft-earthsong.html#jCp
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-spacecraft-earthsong.html#jCp
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