STUDY OF THE ELECTRODYNAMIC INTERACTION PROCESSES IN THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE,
IONOSPHERE, AND MAGNETOSPHERE USING THE ВФС-3М VIDEOPHOTOMETRIC SYSTEM
(MOLNIYA-SM)
Research Area: Earth Remote Sensing
Expeditions(s): 3-10
Principal Investigator(s): ● Vladimir D. Kuznetsov, PhD, NV Pushkov Institute of Terrestrial
Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radio Wave Propagation of the
Russian Academy of Sciences , Troitsk, Russia
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The Study of the Electrodynamic Interaction Processes in the Earth’s Atmosphere, ionosphere,
and Magnetosphere Using the ВФС-3М Videophotometric System (Molniya-SМ) studies the
optical emissions in the Earth’s atmosphere and ionosphere associated with storm activity and
seismic processes.
EARTH BENEFITS
The main emphasis while
preparing and performing
the Molniya-SМ experiment
was placed on studying the
spatial and temporal
characteristics of strong
electrical discharges and
their relation with the
structure of thunderstorm
cells to refine the physics of
interactions with the
electromagnetic radiation
environment created by
high-energy thunderstorm
discharges. The assessment
of the data obtained will be used for refining the transfer mechanism of energy and
disturbances in a unified system consisting of lithosphere, atmosphere, ionosphere, and
magnetosphere. This approach is necessary for developing a unified thermodynamic model of
the geophysical environments in the near-Earth space.
SPACE BENEFITS
Also of significance is that determining the physical nature, properties, rate of occurrence, and
intensity of penetrating radiation could be of interest in terms of flight safety in the
thunderstorm atmosphere.
ВФС-3М Videophotometric Camera installed on a window in the ISS RS
Service Module. Roscosmos image.