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Blobrana


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Space view of Earth's magnetic rocks

It is the best depiction yet of the magnetism retained in Earth's rocks, as viewed from space.
The map was constructed using data from Europe's current Swarm mission, combined with legacy information from a forerunner satellite called Champ.
Variations as small as 250km across are detectable.
Clearly seen are the "stripes" of magnetism moving away from mid-ocean ridges - the places on the planet where new crust is constantly produced.
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Blobrana


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Swarm reveals why satellites lose track

Satellite engineers have been puzzling over why GPS navigation systems on low-orbiting satellites like ESA's Swarm sometimes black out when they fly over the equator between Africa and South America. Thanks to Swarm, it appears 'thunderstorms' in the ionosphere are to blame.
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Blobrana


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Astrium's Swarm satellite fleet successfully tested and ready for space mission

The three Astrium built satellites of the Swarm constellation have completed a series of environmental tests designed to demonstrate their fitness for space flight. The purpose of the Swarm mission is to analyse, in unprecedented detail, the geomagnetic field and its evolution over time. The results of the mission will help to improve our understanding of the Earth's interior and climate. The trio of satellites is due to be launched from Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome in July 2012.
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Blobrana


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Swarm: magnetic field satellites get their bearings

ESA's Swarm satellites, which will unravel the complexities of Earth's magnetic shield, are being put through their paces to ensure that they will withstand the rigours of space. Marking an important milestone, the first satellite has undergone magnetic testing.
Comprising three identical satellites, Swarm is ESA's first constellation of Earth observation satellites. They are due to liftoff together on a Rockot launcher from Plesetsk in northern Russia next year.
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Blobrana


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Swarm satellite mission to try to sense ocean magnetism

European scientists are going to try to measure the movement of the oceans by tracing their magnetism alone.
The effort will be achieved using three super-sensitive spacecraft called Swarm, which should launch in 2012.
The magnetic signal of the tides sweeping around the globe has been seen before, but the new mission would aim to observe far more detail.
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Blobrana


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In the ESA Swarm mission in 2010, GPS antennas will measure the Earths magnetic field with extreme accuracy. Factors such as the right position on the satellite are particularly crucial. A new software program can simulate complex antenna systems, saving time and money.
They are due to swarm out in 2010: The European Space Agency ESA plans to send three miniature satellites into orbit at an altitude of about 450 kilometres above Earth. The task of the Swarm mission is to study the Earths magnetic field and its changes more thoroughly than ever before. The researchers expect to gain a better understanding of the processes deep inside the Earth and of the global climate. For Swarm to fulfil its mission properly, it requires high-precision measuring instruments. Two GPS antennas will be placed on each satellite. But their position will not be left to chance; the position of the antennas is particularly important because it has a significant impact on the efficiency and accuracy of the measurements. Radiation interacting between the satellite and the antenna can also impair the readings. The engineers therefore have to shield the antennas from this type of interference in the best possible way without reducing the overall performance of the antennas.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre FCC in Gothenburg, a sister institute of the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM, have found a solution to these problems.

We have developed a software program called Efield in collaboration with universities, SAAB, Ericsson and Efield AB. It allows us to simulate complex antenna systems in great detail. SAAB Space AB advised us on the Swarm project. We used a CAD model that is, a computer-based model of the satellites and the antenna. Complex algorithms enabled us to simulate the behaviour of the electromagnetic fields and thus determine the optimum position of the antenna and the required shielding - Dr. Fredrik Edelvik of the FCC.

In order to perform these calculations, the research engineers had to develop numerical methods for solving the mathematical equations of the electromagnetic fields. They also needed the powerful performance of a computer with a multi-core processor, enabling them to cut the length of the simulation to just one hour.
The Efield company is now commercialising the software that bears its name. Thanks to the new simulation methods, ultra-modern antenna systems can be developed in a very short space of time. The engineers save immense costs during the development phase because of less need to carry out expensive tests or to manufacture prototypes. The development phase is also very much shorter, and the antenna systems are ready for market much sooner.

Source Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

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