Monitoring Space Weather from the ISS Using Space PlasmA Diagnostic SuitE (SPADE) Data

Modern society is highly dependent on satellite-based information and communications systems. Similar to the effects that major storms have on daily life, extreme space weather can harm satellite operations and high-voltage terrestrial power grids. Consequently, monitoring space weather is essential and requires its own set of diagnostic tools. SPADE is one such tool developed by NRL to characterize the low Earth orbit plasma environment from aboard the ISS. For example, the SPADE impedance probe finds plasma density by identifying natural resonances that are dependent on the local magnetic field. Thus, effective use of the impedance probe requires an accurate magnetometer measurement. The SPADE magnetometer data was calibrated with the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF-13) model and used to interpret impedance probe measurements along the ISS orbit. Plasma density and other parameters are also affected by geomagnetic activity, making SPADE a promising instrument for identifying space weather. While analyzing deviations between SPADE’s magnetic field measurements and the IGRF-13 model, we looked for correlations between impedance probe data and geomagnetic activity. The calibrated SPADE data could provide valuable information to help develop space weather models.