Developing Techniques for Spacecraft Noise Removal in Preparation for Solar Probe Plus

Abstract:

Many satellite magnetometers easily observe non-environmental fields generated by spacecraft electronics and mechanisms. The dominant sources of spacecraft noise differ between various missions. Accordingly, a variety of techniques are employed in removing such noise from science-level magnetic field data. We present several example sources of spacecraft noise, including reaction wheels and instrument power supplies, as well as the accompanying observational signatures present in the magnetic field data. Several potential algorithms are proposed to remove this contaminant noise. These algorithms demonstrate the effect of spacecraft noise on interpreting high precision magnetic field measurements. These noise sources and algorithms are highly relevant to future missions such as Solar Probe Plus and Solar Orbiter.