DEMETER
DEMETER was launched on June 29, 2004 on a circular quasi-polar orbit at an altitude of 715 km. Its scientific objectives were to study in the ionosphere the disturbances which can occur before the important earthquakes as well as the modifications due to the human activity (radio-navigation transmitters, electromagnetic radiation of the industrial activity).
Artist’s view of DEMETER. Credit CNES
The scientific payload included instruments to measure waves in a wide frequency range, electron and ion densities, and energetic particles.
The scientific payload of DEMETER. Image credit CNES.
The LPC2E has participated in a major way in the scientific instrumentation. It was responsible for the three-axis magnetic search-coil sensor (IMSC) and for the on-board electronics (BANT) which interfaced all the experiments and the satellite telemetry.
In addition, the LPC2E was responsible for the DEMETER mission center, whose two main objectives were: 1) the preparation of payload programming plans during the operational phase of the mission; 2) the provision of data to the scientific community.
After 6.5 years of good service, the satellite received its last scientific programming in December 2010.
The data are now available at the (CDPP). The exploitation of these data is ongoing and many publications have been made. The list of publications can be consulted on the site DEMETER publications.
Contact at LPC2E : Michel.Parrot@cnrs-orleans.fr