A Study for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle carrying a radiation spectrometer networked to the new Athens Center active in Space Weather Events forecasting

A proposal is presented for flying a light Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) carrying a Linear-Energy-Transfer (LET) radiation spectrometer and networked to the Athens Neutron Monitor Data Processing Center (ANMODAP), active in Space Weather Events (SWE) forecasting. The ANMODAP receives data from a large number of remote neutron monitor (NM) stations, provided in real time over the Internet, together with satellite data. Through this project, the ANMODAP forecasting capability will be increased with the collection of data at high atmospheric altitudes over Greece by the LET radiation spectrometer, carried on the specially designed UAV. The advantages of this spectrometer are its very small dimensions, light weight, and low power consumption. The UAV, powered from photovoltaic generators, flying at high altitudes with propellers on small electrical motors, and carrying simple networking equipment, will achieve long range telecommunication links with a terrestrial footprint larger than the area of Greece.