Magnetosphere: Real time data reception of ACE and IMAGE satellites

Abstract

A ground station system for receiving and processing satellite telemetry data in real time was built for the ACE real-time solar wind monitor (RTSW) data in 1997. CRL has contributed to the global ACE tracking network by operating the facilities since the start of the RTSW project. A networked real-time data system hosted by NOAA/SEC was set up for exchanging the ACE real-time data, and it has been achieving a very high coverage. In 2000, data reception was extended to that of the IMAGE satellite. This addition incorporated a new antenna-management system for tracking multiple satellites. At CRL used is real-time satellite data for space weather forecasting. As a result of the success with the real-time data from ACE and IMAGE, real-time distribution of satellite data has become an important part of any satellite program dedicated to space science.