Space Experiment to Measure Ionospheric Radio Signal Delays

Abstract

This paper describes a space experiment that is planned to be performed within the framework of the Russian project of the microsatellite CHIBIS AI to meaure ionospheric signal delays to determine the electron density and spatial fluctuations of the ionospheric and magnetospheric plasma. The measurements will be conducted by the phase interferometer method at two levels using signals from the onboard in-phase transmitters and GPS/GLONASS signals. The location of the radiation sources at two levels will make it possible to separate plasma variations in the ionosphere and inner magnetosphere–plasmasphere. The experimental results are of interest both for solving fundamental problems of near-Earth plasma physics and applied problems to improve positioning accuracy using global navigation systems.