PhD Opportunity in Space Physics

There is a vacancy for a PhD position at the Birkeland Centre for Space Science in the Department of Physics and
Technology of the University of Bergen in Norway.

The PhD will be part of a group in BCSS that explores how energetic
particle precipitation can affect the chemistry and dynamics of the
upper atmosphere in the polar region. We use the TED and MEPED detectors
on board the NOAA/POES and EUMESAT/MetOP satellites to study the
behavior of the precipitating electrons with energy 1-750 keV. The PhD
work will focus on the nature of particle precipitation with the aim to
develop a parameterization.

The successful candidate must hold a master-degree in space physics (or
a related field), or must have submitted his/her master thesis for
assessment prior to the application deadline. He/she should have
knowledge as well as experience working with the physics related to
particle precipitation into the atmosphere and/or the associated
effects.

Full text of announcement can be found and submission of application
should be made at:
https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/154291/phd-posititon-in-space-physics-at-the-birkeland-centre-for-space-science-bcss

For any questions contact Hilde Nesse Tyssøy (hilde.nesse@uib.no)

Closing date for applications: July 3, 2018

Congratulations to USST!

In what will be Saskatchewan’s first student-designed satellite mission, a University of Saskatchewan-led space design team has been chosen by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to design, build, launch and operate a small cube-shaped research satellite for launch by rocket in 2021.

Read more: https://news.usask.ca/articles/colleges/2018/u-of-s-students-achieve-success-in-national-and-international-space-design-competitions—.php

The University of Alberta also won funding for it’s second CubeSat project ExAlta-2.  Here is a list of selected teams and their collaborators, and a summary of each mission.

http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/cubesat/selected-teams.asp

CaNoRock 14 – The sky’s the limit for space science students

CaNoRock 14 students

CaNoRock 14 was a great success with 11 Canadian undergraduate students from University of Saskatchewan, University of Alberta and University of Calgary joining their peers from Norwegian Universities at the Andøya Space Center in Norway.  This on-going collaboration between Norway and Canada is the foundation of International Space Mission Training Master’s student program and is basis of development of a future Joint Master’s Degree.

Read more about it here.  https://www.siu.no/eng/For-the-media/News/going-to-space and in the UofS Campus News: https://news.usask.ca/articles/colleges/2017/the-skys-the-limit-for-rocket-science-students.php

Field School Balloon Launch

The first ISM CREATE Field school was a great experience for students.  The successful balloon launch was the highlight – the treed payload a lesson in expecting the unexpected.  Students came together in Kingston Ontario from the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Alberta and the University of Tromsø to CREATE a team of space mission specialists.  Watch the video of our 3 week intensive.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRq5Df1n6-w

SHOW ER-2 Campaign

ISM CREATE student Daniel Letros has a good excuse for missing PH549 this summer.  He will be heading to the Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Airforce Base in California.  He is part of a team of CSA, NASA and UofS ISAS scientists, including ISM collaborators Dr. Doug Degenstein and Dr. Adam Bourasa.

The program will use a Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy optical technique to measure water vapour features the upper troposphere-lower stratosphere region with limb viewing geometry.  The SHOW (Spatial Heterodyne Observation of Water) ER-2 campaign will be carried out on NASA’s ER-2 science aircraft in mid-July.  The ER-2 is able to fly into the lower stratosphere at subsonic speeds, enabling direct stratospheric sampling and observation.

ER-2 NASA’s High Altitude Airborne Science Aircraft (NASA)

Two flight paths at an altitude of 22km will be flown, one going north over the western United States and the other southeast over the Pacific. The goal of the campaign is to measure the density of water vapour in the upper atmosphere and improve predictive models.

Good luck with the launch Daniel.

Liftoff!

After a number of delays the Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft was lifted into space by an Atlas V rocket Tuesday morning.  ISM CREATE students Charles Nokes and Chris Robson were on hand at the Kennedy Space Centre to witness the launch and delivery of the University of Alberta CubeSat.  Read the full article here!