Solving the SBEM Space Weather gaps via dense, global, low latency, GNSS RO electron density, scintillation , energetic charged particle, and cloud characterization observations on PlanetiQ microsatellites

lanetiQ collects and analyzes atmospheric and ionospheric data globally from their proprietary spacecraft and instruments using  GNSS-RO technology. PlanetiQ has one GNSS-RO sensor in space currently, with two more spacecraft that will be both GNSS-RO enabled launching in July and October 2024. For GNSS signals passing through Earth’s atmosphere in the occultation geometry of the figure shown below, the atmosphere acts as a progressive lens (similar to some eye glasses), bending light and radio frequency signals similarly, based on the atmosphere’s density and water content. By capturing the bending angle of GNSS signals as they propagate through the atmosphere in the occultation geometry, the temperature, pressure, and water vapor of the atmosphere is measurable with very high vertical resolution, in any and all weather conditions, over any type of surface. PlanetiQ’s SNR is six times higher than the nearest commercial competitor and the highest available, enabling it to routinely ‘see’ and collect observations that extend from the top of the atmosphere down to the surface. Currently, there are twelve, top-priority SBEM Requirement Gaps, as outlined in JCORM 091-12 and 092-14 covering both terrestrial and space weather. Of these twelve, five of the space weather gaps can be addressed by PlanetiQ’s space-based Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) technology. These are (with the SBEM requirement priority identified in parentheses): Ionospheric Density [4]Equatorial Ionospheric Scintillation [7]Auroral Characterization [10] Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Energetic Charged Particle (ECP) Characterization [11]Additionally, with the use of GNSS-RO technology, PlanetiQ will address the following terrestrial weather SBEM requirements gap within this proposed scope of work: Cloud Characterization [1]Each of these top priorities to fill SBEM requirements gaps, both space weather and cloud characterization, will be discussed in detail and will be addressed in the Phase II scope of work proposed herein. Additionally, since the space weather and cloud characterization requirements addressed herein have a latency threshold of ten minutes, PlanetiQ further proposes to build a small Viasat terminal that will enable satellite to satellite communications that meet these fast latency requirements.