The characteristic feature of the
INTERBALL
project is the realization
of multi point simultaneous measurements at different altitudes
provided by two main satellites
together with two subsatellites, each of which is launched into orbit
as the passenger of its main satellite.
The main purpose of the subsatellites in the INTERBALL Project is to perform systematic complex studies in the tail polar magnetosphere, magnetosheath and solar wind, of spatial structures of individual space plasma processes, ambient plasma parameters and cause-and-effect relationships by performing measurements synchronized with those made on the main satellite. Measurements at two different points in space for each satellite-subsatellite pair - if their relative positions are known - enable one to distinguish reliably (in one direction, at least) the locations and motions of various plasma structures and/or inhomogeneities in space from the purely time variation of the medium parameters, which is very important for the correct interpretation of experimental results.
The spacecraft of Magion type have been selected as the subsatellites of the Interball project: Magion-4 (C2-X) for the Tail Probe and Magion-5 (C2-A) for the Auroral Probe. The concept of the small subsatellite for the Prognoz-type spacecraft was realized for the first time in this project. Magion-4 was produced in the Czech Republic in collaboration with Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria and has onboard scientific instruments and sensors designed and built in Czech Republic, Russia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovak Republic. Magion-5 spacecraft is currently being prepared for the launch in 1996 and has onboard scientific insruments from France in addition to the instruments mentioned above.
