# Interball Auroral Probe

> satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q12814716](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12814716)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/interball-auroral-probe

## Summary
The Interball Auroral Probe is an artificial satellite launched in 1996 to study plasma processes within the Earth's magnetosphere. It operated as part of the Interball solar-terrestrial program, specifically focusing on the region located above the polar aurora.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Spacecraft and artificial satellite
- **Parent Program:** Interball
- **Launch Date:** August 29, 1996
- **Launch Vehicle:** Molniya-M (Soviet space launcher rocket)
- **Launch Site:** Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43
- **COSPAR ID:** 1996-050C
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 24293
- **Mission Objective:** Investigation of plasma processes above the polar aurora

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of the Interball Auroral Probe?
A: The probe was designed to study various plasma processes in the Earth's magnetosphere. It was specifically positioned to collect data from the region above the polar aurora.

### Q: How was the Interball Auroral Probe launched into space?
A: The spacecraft was launched on August 29, 1996, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43. It was carried into orbit by a Molniya-M Soviet space launcher rocket.

### Q: What was the structure of the Interball program?
A: The Interball program consisted of two pairs of spacecraft, with each pair containing a satellite and a subsatellite. One pair was stationed above the polar aurora, while the other was located in the magnetospheric tail.

## Why It Matters
The Interball Auroral Probe served as a critical component of the Interball solar-terrestrial program. By studying plasma processes, the mission contributed to a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between solar activity and the Earth's magnetosphere. The use of a satellite-subsatellite system allowed for more sophisticated data collection than a single spacecraft could provide, specifically targeting the physical mechanisms occurring above the polar aurora. This research is fundamental to the study of space physics and the behavior of charged particles in the Earth's magnetic environment.

## Notable For
- **Targeted Research:** Specifically designed to monitor the plasma environment directly above the polar aurora.
- **System Architecture:** Operated as one half of a satellite-subsatellite pair within the broader Interball program.
- **Launch Platform:** Utilized the Molniya-M rocket, a notable Soviet-era space launcher, for its deployment from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.
- **Dual-Region Study:** Contributed to a program that simultaneously studied the polar aurora and the magnetospheric tail using separate spacecraft pairs.

## Body

### Mission Context
The Interball Auroral Probe (also identified by the alias INTERBALL AURORA) was a scientific mission conducted under the Interball solar-terrestrial program. The program's overarching goal was to investigate plasma processes within the Earth's magnetosphere through a coordinated system of spacecraft.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft is cataloged under the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 24293 and the COSPAR ID 1996-050C. In technical databases, it is recognized by the Wolfram Language entity code Entity["Satellite", "24293"]. 

### Launch Details
The probe was successfully launched on August 29, 1996. The significant event took place at Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43, utilizing a Molniya-M rocket. This launcher is a class of Soviet space launcher rockets known for deploying various scientific and military payloads.

### Program Configuration
The Interball program was unique in its use of two distinct pairs of spacecraft to provide a comprehensive view of the magnetosphere:
*   **Auroral Pair:** This pair, which included the Interball Auroral Probe, was situated above the polar aurora.
*   **Tail Pair:** A second pair of spacecraft was positioned in the magnetospheric tail.

Each pair followed a satellite-subsatellite configuration, allowing for simultaneous measurements from two closely related points in space to better understand the dynamics of magnetospheric plasma.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report