The Radio Solar Telescope Network (RSTN) is a network of solar observatories maintained and operated by the 557th Weather Wing, ACC.[1][2] The RSTN consists of ground-based observatories in Australia, Italy, Massachusetts, and Hawaii.[3]
It became apparent in the early 1960s that certain space weather events might interfere with the stated U.S. objective of a crewed mission to the moon. In particular, the sun emits continuous electromagnetic energy and electrically charged particles, which can cause disturbances in the near-Earth environment and disrupt satellite communications.
Foremost among these concerns was the possibility of a geomagnetic storm of solar origin. Metric Type II radio bursts, signatures of coronal shock waves or coronal mass ejections, were known to be commonly associated with solar flares. The United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) was thus assigned the task of developing and validating a network of ground-based solar observatories. AFRL established a worldwide network of sweep frequency recorders from which estimates of the shock speed in the corona could be made. This network, called the Radio Solar Telescope Network (RSTN), uses a bandwidth from 25 MHz to 85 MHz.
The prototype was assembled and operated at the Sagamore Hill Solar Radio Observatory during the early 1960s. The Sagamore Hill Solar Radio Observatory began operating solar patrols in 1966. The Air Force Geophysics Laboratory (AFGL, currently Phillips Lab) transferred operation of the observatory to Detachment 2 of the 2nd Weather Group of the Air Force Weather Agency in October 1978. However, Phillips Lab continues to work in an advisory capacity to the observatory.
Missionedit
The mission of the solar observatories of the RSTN is to monitor solar flares, noise storms and other releases of energy from the sun, and when necessary, notify military and civilian personnel concerned with space, weather, power and communications in countries throughout the world.
Operationsedit
The radio and optical observatories are operated by detachments of the 2nd Weather Group, as follows:
Det. 1, Learmonth Solar Observatory, RAAF Learmonth, WA, Australia
The RSTN is complemented in its real-time capability by a radio telescope operated from 25 MHz (the ionospheric cutoff) to 1,800 MHz by the Ionospheric Prediction Service at the Paul Wild Observatory in Culgoora, New South Wales, Australia.
Referencesedit
^"2d Weather Squadron, Radio Solar Telescope Network". 557th Weather Wing. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
^"Solar Electro-Optical Network (SEON, RSTN, SOON)". National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
^Cliver, E. W.; Gentile, L. C.; Wells, G. D. (1987-07-01). RSTN (Radio Solar Telescope Network) observations of the 16 February 1984 cosmic-ray flare (Report). Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (USA).
April 11, 2024
radio, solar, telescope, network, rstn, network, solar, observatories, maintained, operated, 557th, weather, wing, rstn, consists, ground, based, observatories, australia, italy, massachusetts, hawaii, contents, history, mission, operations, referenceshistory,. The Radio Solar Telescope Network RSTN is a network of solar observatories maintained and operated by the 557th Weather Wing ACC 1 2 The RSTN consists of ground based observatories in Australia Italy Massachusetts and Hawaii 3 Contents 1 History 2 Mission 3 Operations 4 ReferencesHistory editIt became apparent in the early 1960s that certain space weather events might interfere with the stated U S objective of a crewed mission to the moon In particular the sun emits continuous electromagnetic energy and electrically charged particles which can cause disturbances in the near Earth environment and disrupt satellite communications Foremost among these concerns was the possibility of a geomagnetic storm of solar origin Metric Type II radio bursts signatures of coronal shock waves or coronal mass ejections were known to be commonly associated with solar flares The United States Air Force Research Laboratory AFRL was thus assigned the task of developing and validating a network of ground based solar observatories AFRL established a worldwide network of sweep frequency recorders from which estimates of the shock speed in the corona could be made This network called the Radio Solar Telescope Network RSTN uses a bandwidth from 25 MHz to 85 MHz The prototype was assembled and operated at the Sagamore Hill Solar Radio Observatory during the early 1960s The Sagamore Hill Solar Radio Observatory began operating solar patrols in 1966 The Air Force Geophysics Laboratory AFGL currently Phillips Lab transferred operation of the observatory to Detachment 2 of the 2nd Weather Group of the Air Force Weather Agency in October 1978 However Phillips Lab continues to work in an advisory capacity to the observatory Mission editThe mission of the solar observatories of the RSTN is to monitor solar flares noise storms and other releases of energy from the sun and when necessary notify military and civilian personnel concerned with space weather power and communications in countries throughout the world Operations editThe radio and optical observatories are operated by detachments of the 2nd Weather Group as follows Det 1 Learmonth Solar Observatory RAAF Learmonth WA Australia Det 2 Sagamore Hill Solar Observatory Hamilton Massachusetts USA Det 4 Holloman AFB New Mexico USA Det 5 Kaena Point Solar Observatory Kaena Point Hawaii USA San Vito Solar Observatory San Vito dei Normanni ItalyThe RSTN is complemented in its real time capability by a radio telescope operated from 25 MHz the ionospheric cutoff to 1 800 MHz by the Ionospheric Prediction Service at the Paul Wild Observatory in Culgoora New South Wales Australia References edit 2d Weather Squadron Radio Solar Telescope Network 557th Weather Wing Retrieved 2024 02 01 Solar Electro Optical Network SEON RSTN SOON National Centers for Environmental Information NCEI 2022 12 12 Retrieved 2024 02 01 Cliver E W Gentile L C Wells G D 1987 07 01 RSTN Radio Solar Telescope Network observations of the 16 February 1984 cosmic ray flare Report Air Force Geophysics Lab Hanscom AFB MA USA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Radio Solar Telescope Network amp oldid 1201618397, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
