Extreme Ultraviolet Radiation Measurement for Planetary Atmospheres/Magnetospheres from the Earth-Orbiting Spacecraft (Extreme Ultraviolet Spectroscope for Exospheric Dynamics: EXCEED)

The Sprint-A satellite with the EUV spectrometer (Extreme Ultraviolet Spectroscope for Exospheric Dynamics: EXCEED) was launched in September 2013 by the Epsilon rocket. Now it is orbiting around the Earth (954.05 km×1156.87 km orbit; the period is 104 minutes) and one has started a broad and varied observation program. With an effective area of more than 1 cm² and well-calibrated sensitivity in space, the EUV spectrometer will produce spectral images (520–1480 Å) of the atmospheres/magnetospheres of several planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) from the Earth’s orbit. At the first day of the observation, EUV emissions from the Io plasma torus (mainly sulfur ions) and aurora (H₂ Lyman and Werner bands) of Jupiter have been identified. Continuous 3-month measurement for Io’s plasma torus and aurora is planned to witness the sporadic and sudden brightening events occurring on one or both regions. For Venus, the Fourth Positive (A¹Π-X¹Σ⁺) system of CO and some yet known emissions of the atmosphere were identified even though the exposure was short (8-min). Long-term exposure from April to June (for approximately 2 months) will visualize the Venusian ionosphere and tail in the EUV spectral range. Saturn and Mars are the next targets.