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Project description
Project summary
Cluster science in the participating Norwegian groups is centred around studies of processes in the magnetospheric
cusp and on studies of substorms and storms. The four spacecraft configuration is particularly well suited for these
studies. FFI is involved with two experiments on Cluster II, one for emission of ions to control the electric potential
of the spacecraft and one for measuring electrons from energies of eV to keV. UiB participate in a high-energy
ion/electron experiment and UiO in an electric field experiment which again is part of a large field and wave combination.
The analysis of the Cluster data have proved to be very successful. The combination of observations on Cluster, on the ground
(e.g. EISCAT and optical observations) and on SOHO, POLAR and other satellites contribute significantly to solar-terrestrial
science. Increased data coverage for the Cluster satellites gives more cases for multi-instrument studies combining space
craft and ground-based observations. The success of Cluster science depends on a large extent that a number of young
scientists (cand.scient and post.docs) become involved in programme. The recruitment of students to work on Cluster
related projects has been promising and today four students are working on their cand. scient degrees in this field.
It is important that some of these students can proceed on a dr.scient study.
The Cluster II science is now extended through the European/China magnetospheric Double Star Project to be launched in
2004. FFI participate in Double Star with the Cluster instruments Peace and Aspoc. UiO participate in the Rosetta project,
one of the cornerstones in ESA’s Horizon 2000+, with a Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) for the Langmuir Probe Instrument
The project's primary and secondary objectives
The Cluster mission is primarily designed to study the three-dimensional extent and the dynamical behaviour of small-scale
structures (from a few hundred to a few thousand km in extent) in the Earth’s plasma environment. This amply to study the
physical processes involved in solar wind – magnetosphere – ionosphere coupling, phenomena in the magnetospheric polar cusp,
and in magnetospheric storms/substorms. To reach this goal one has to secure that the three Norwegian groups (FFI, UiB,UiO),
now active in the Cluster II operation and data analysis can continue to participate actively in the large and successful
scientific multi-observational programme.
The project is financed by "The Research Councile of Norway" - Project number 153210
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