Two-dimensional ionospheric radio-tomography by nanosatellite constellation receiving signals from the GLONASS navigation system

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, we consider an approach to radiotomographic monitoring of the ionosphere by a constellation of nanosatellites with receiving equipment for L-band navigation signals on its satellites. We choose the constellation orbit and the angular position of nanosatellites on the orbit to obtain an acceptable latitudinal resolution of measurements equal to 7.5 degrees. The final sounding geometry makes it possible to obtain the first measurements in less than 3.5 minutes, and the full cycle of measurements is obtained in 74 minutes, which makes it possible to reconstruct the electron density of the ionosphere in the orbital plane in the altitude range from 200 to 500 km.