Scientific Objectives and Mission Design of Ionospheric Anomaly Monitoring by Magnetometer And Plasma-Probe (IAMMAP) for a Sounding Rocket in Low-Altitude Ionosphere

Sounding rockets are cost-effective and rapidly deployable tools for directly exploring the ionosphere and microgravity environments. These rockets achieve their target altitudes quickly and are equipped with various scientific instruments to collect real-time data. Perigee Aerospace plans its inaugural test launch in the first half of 2024, followed by a second performance test launch in January 2025. The second launch, scheduled off the coast of Jeju Island, aims to reach an altitude of approximately 150 km with a payload of 30 kg, conducting various experiments in the suborbital region. Particularly in mid-latitude regions, the ionosphere sporadically exhibits increased electron densities in the sporadic E layers and magnetic fluctuations caused by the equatorial electrojet. To measure these phenomena, the sounding rocket version of ionospheric anomaly monitoring by magnetometer and plasma-probe (IAMMAP), currently under development at the KAIST Satellite Research Center, will be onboard. This study focuses on enhancing our understanding of the mid-latitude ionosphere and designing observable missions for the forthcoming performance tests.