The fluxgate magnetometer of the Low Orbit Pearl Satellites (LOPS): overview of in-flight performance and initial results

Zhu, Ye; Du, Aimin; Luo, Hao; Qiao, Donghai; Zhang, Ying; Ge, Yasong; Yang, Jiefeng; Sun, Shuquan; Zhao, Lin; Ou, Jiaming; Guo, Zhifang; Tian, Lin

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-10-227-2021

Articles | Volume 10, issue 2

https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-10-227-2021

© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-10-227-2021

© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 10, issue 2

Research article

|

09 Sep 2021

Research article |

| 09 Sep 2021

The fluxgate magnetometer of the Low Orbit Pearl Satellites (LOPS): overview of in-flight performance and initial results

Ye Zhu, Aimin Du, Hao Luo, Donghai Qiao, Ying Zhang, Yasong Ge, Jiefeng Yang, Shuquan Sun, Lin Zhao, Jiaming Ou, Zhifang Guo, and Lin Tian

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Final revised paper (published on 09 Sep 2021)
Preprint (discussion started on 29 Mar 2021)

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

RC1:
'Comment on gi-2021-2 Sergio Fernández Romero', Sergio Fernández, 11 May 2021
The paper describes an interesting study on the magnetic measurements obtained in flight by the low-orbiting Pearl satellite constellation. In the first part, the manuscripts is focused on the instrument (fluxgate magnetometers) calibration techniques, both, on ground and inflight methods. Specifically, in-flight calibration of dynamic interferences from spacecraft is covered in depth, for both AC and DC magnetic interferences. In the second part, the preliminary results of the measurements are compared with the most current geomagnetic models to verify their correlation.

The results obtained with the preliminary results are very promising. Of course, the authors know that they must continue working to improve their analysis of magnetic data and investigate the different dynamic processes and electrical currents of the ionosphere and magnetosphere. These improvements will be the subject of subsequent publications.

In my opinion the manuscript is publishable after minor revisions. Some minor errors to correct:

Please, do not put acronyms in the abstract.

Please, put the acronyms from the introduction, always the first time they appear and if they are to be used again.

Line 24: correct the degree symbol and define LOPS.

Line 45: correct the degree symbol.

Line 65-67: you refer to the errors of the three Euler angles. Have these errors been evaluated?

Line 185: Please, can you add references on similar studies?

Line 228-232: This section could be better explained, step by step, adding graphs that better explain the process and indicating its references.

Line 285: References to Figure 16 and 17 appear before reference to Figure 15. Please, renumber the figures.
Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-2021-2-RC1
- AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Hao Luo, 17 May 2021
  
  We thank you very much for the constructive comments. We reply to your comments point-by-point in the supplement file attached.
  
  Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-2021-2-AC1
RC2: 'Comment on gi-2021-2', claudio aroca, 28 Jun 2021

I is a nice paper, they show in a very careful way a fluxgate sensors calibrtion method. Their results in earth magnetic field measurement could be the beginning of further interesting results.

After mention the clasisc Howland Current Pump in my opinion they must include a citation as: T.I. AN-1515 report "Comprehensive Study of the Howland Current Pump " or something similar

Citation: https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-2021-2-RC2

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision

AR by Hao Luo on behalf of the Authors (07 Jul 2021) Author's response Author's tracked changes Manuscript

ED: Publish as is (28 Jul 2021) by Marina Díaz-Michelena

AR by Hao Luo on behalf of the Authors (03 Aug 2021) Author's response Manuscript

Short summary

The Low Orbit Pearl Satellites measure magnetic field with high spatial coverage. Although there is no magnetic cleanliness to the satellites, the triple sensor configuration enables removal of interference. Results show they can capture the Earth’s internal as well as external fields from the magnetosphere–ionosphere current system. This study implies that a large number of small low-cost satellites without magnetic cleanliness could be the future for space magnetic exploration.