Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder, Smiles-2, for Middle and Upper Atmospheric Study

• Published in: IGARSS 2018 - 2018 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium pp. 9153 - 9156
• Main Authors: Ochiai, S., Baron, P., Irimajiri, Y., Uzawa, Y., Nishibori, T., Suzuki, M., Saito, A., Shiotani, M.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01-07-2018
• Subjects: Atmosphere; Atmospheric measurements; Extraterrestrial measurements; Frequency measurement; limb sounder; middle atmosphere; Receivers; Satellites; spaceborne sensor; Temperature measurement; upper atmosphere; wind measurement
• ISSN: 2153-7003
• DOI: 10.1109/IGARSS.2018.8518300

The Superconducting Submillimeter- Wave Limb-Emission Sounder 2 (SMILES-2) is a satellite mission to observe the stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower thermosphere with superconducting submillimeter receivers. SMILES-2 aims at studying the dynamical, chemical, and electromagnetic coupling of the middle and upper atmosphere with an unprecedented high-precision observations of multiple atmospheric parameters from a platform on a non-sunsynchronous orbit. SMILES-2 consists of superconducting receivers at frequencies between 619 GHz and 2.06 THz. The GHz receivers observe mainly the temperature, wind, and chemical compositions in the stratosphere and mesosphere. The frequency band of 640 GHz receiver includes the band investigated by JEM/SMILES mission, which was operated during the period from 2009 to 2010. The THz receiver, a new channel of SMILES-2, is devoted to measurement of atomic oxygen for observation of the lower thermospheric temperature and wind. The SIS mixer of GHz receiver and HEB mixer of THz receiver are cooled down to around 4 K by a mechanical cryocooler, which is designed to have 3 year lifetime and 5 year goal. The SMILES-2 payload is estimated to be less than 200 kg and consume power of 300 to 400 W. SMILES-2 is proposed for a mission installed on 500 kg size satellite of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).