A SPACE WEATHER RESEARCH PAYLOAD
ON THE CASSIOPE SATELLITE
e-POP PAYLOAD
The Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (e‑POP) is a research payload on the CASSIOPE (a.k.a. Swarm-Echo) spacecraft that is collecting new data on space storms and associated plasma outflows from the Earth’s ionosphere.
CASSIOPE SATELLITE
CASSIOPE is comprised of three working elements that use the first made-in-Canada multi-purpose small satellite platform in the Canadian Small Satellite Bus Program, an element vital to the future of the Canadian space program.
PARTNERS
The CASSIOPE/e-POP mission is a collaborative effort by researchers from several Canadian and foreign universities and research institutes, as well as Canadian industry. CASSIOPE became part of the European Space Agency’s Swarm mission, as Swarm-Echo, in 2018.
ABOUT CASSIOPE/e‑POP
The Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (e-POP) is a research payload on the CASSIOPE spacecraft that is collecting new data on space storms and associated plasma outflows from the Earth's ionosphere.
Launched on September 29, 2013 by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, e-POP is enabling scientists to study space weather and its potentially devastating impacts on radio communications, GPS navigation, and other space-based technologies.
The University of Calgary is leading the operation of CASSIOPE/e-POP, which is the first made-in-Canada multi-purpose small satellite mission from the Canadian Space Agency. CASSIOPE/e-POP joined the European Space Agency's Swarm mission in 2018 as Swarm-Echo, greatly increasing the data made available by the mission. Routine operations as Swarm-Echo have come to an end, but CASSIOPE continues to collect novel data in space for a variety of ongoing projects.
LATEST NEWS
CASSIOPE/e-POP Turns 10!
Exciting News! We’re thrilled to announce an exciting milestone in space exploration – the 10th anniversary of the CASSIOPE (also known as Swarm-Echo) satellite’s launch! A Decade of Scientific Research A decade ago, CASSIOPE embarked on its journey into low-Earth orbit on a SpaceX rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, equipped with cutting-edge technology and Read more about CASSIOPE/e-POP Turns 10![…]
New e-POP Payload Quicklook Web App
We are pleased to announce that, through support of the Canadian Space Agency, a new web tool is now available for creation of stacked quicklook plots of e-POP data. With this new tool, users can quickly and easily create plots of e-POP data, choosing from over 20 different data sets including FAI images, MGF magnetic Read more about New e-POP Payload Quicklook Web App[…]
e-POP Data Tutorials Released
We are pleased to announce the release of the e-POP Data Tutorials – a set of Python Jupyter Notebooks and PDF files that walk users through how to read, plot, and work with the various e-POP data sets. Examples include tutorials on reading, displaying, and mapping FAI images, a notebook for reading and plotting the Read more about e-POP Data Tutorials Released[…]
Routine CASSIOPE (Swarm-Echo) Science Operations Come to an End
On December 17, 2021, CASSIOPE experienced a reaction wheel failure, forcing the spacecraft into its safe-hold, sun-pointing attitude mode. Used to adjust and control the spacecraft pointing, reaction wheels are a vital part of a spacecraft bus. Now that CASSIOPE has lost three of its four wheels, this latest failure signals the end of CASSIOPE’s Read more about Routine CASSIOPE (Swarm-Echo) Science Operations Come to an End[…]
e-POP Processed Data Handbook Now Available
The e-POP Processed Data Handbook is now available at epop.phys.ucalgary.ca/data-handbook. The Handbook is the definitive guide to e-POP processed data files and formats, plots, coordinate systems, attitude and orbit data, and more. For any data-related inquires, please contact esoc@phys.calgary.ca.
CASSIOPE/e-POP Data Confirms that Solar Eclipses Induce Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances
The Great American Solar Eclipse of August, 2017 was observed by millions. Carving out a path of total eclipse across the continental United States from Oregon to South Carolina, the event provided a fantastic opportunity to observe a full solar eclipse, both from the ground and from space. CASSIOPE/e-POP, with its suite of GPS receivers, Read more about CASSIOPE/e-POP Data Confirms that Solar Eclipses Induce Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances[…]
e-POP Becomes Fourth Member of Swarm Constellation
We are pleased to announce that CASSIOPE/e-POP has become part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Swarm mission, via the Third Party Mission programme at ESA. This new four-year partnership will allow e-POP to collect valuable space weather data at a rate 3-4 times greater than has been done previously. CASSIOPE/e-POP will join the Swarm Read more about e-POP Becomes Fourth Member of Swarm Constellation[…]
Science Team Meeting #18 Announcement
The 18th e-POP Science Team Meeting will take place on February 21-23, 2018 at the University of Saskatchewan, Institute of Space and Atmospheric Science (ISAS) in Saskatoon. The meeting will feature program updates, scientific workshops, and special presentations to recognize our retiring and emeritus team members for their contributions to the e-POP mission. For the Read more about Science Team Meeting #18 Announcement[…]
e-POP GAP Occultation data validation published in journal Radio Science
A new Radio Science publication shows the validation of the e-POP GAP Occultation experiment data. Using a number of methods to validate the receiver’s differential code bias, lead author Dr. Chris Watson of the COSMIC Program Office at UCAR shows that total electron content measurements from the GAP occultation receiver are in good agreement with Read more about e-POP GAP Occultation data validation published in journal Radio Science[…]
New e-POP – Swarm publication on auroral dynamics
A new publication in Geophysical Research Letters, lead by Dr. David Miles of the University of Iowa, makes use of e-POP and Swarm in-situ satellite data over Northern Canada to address the question of the energy source for dynamic aurora: static electric fields or magnetic waves? It is shown that magnetic Alfvén waves can be Read more about New e-POP – Swarm publication on auroral dynamics[…]