CODA
Coupling of Dynamics and Aurora
CODA's two specific scientific goals were to measure the magnitude and distribution
of turbulent diffusion in the lower E-region of the atmosphere as a result of
auroral forcing and to measure the meso-scale (10-100 km) horizontal variations
in the vertical velocities of this turbulence.
The system was launched successfully 21 February 2002 into a decaying aurora
following a moderate to strong auroral substorm. The CODA payload, consisting
of six sensor systems, followed the launch of three chemical-release rockets
as closely as possible. Instruments aboard CODA measured the dispersion of chemical
plumes from those rockets to provide estimates of turbulent diffusion in the
lower E-region.
SDL designed and built or reconditioned two of the six sensor systems on board:
a Plasma Frequency /DC Probe (PFP) combination to measure electron density,
which was entirely SDL technology, and an Atomic Oxygen Experiment (ATOX) to
measure atomic oxygen content.
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SDL's Plasma Sensor Capabilities