First Observations of the Italian EFD-02 on CSES-02

On June 14 — the very day of the mission’s launch — the Italian instrument EFD-02 (Electric Field Detector) began its scientific observations. Thanks to its high sensitivity and fast sampling rate, combined with the satellite’s ability to fly over polar regions, EFD-02 is already revealing new insights into space phenomena that are still not fully understood, such as polar auroras. These are not only fascinating phenomena, but also have tangible effects on our daily lives — for example, by damaging power grids or disrupting the operation of satellites.
The first results show that EFD-02 can measure fluctuations in the electric field produced when charged particles from space precipitate into Earth’s atmosphere, giving rise to auroras. Studying these fluctuations will help scientists better understand how particles are guided and accelerated along magnetic field lines, and will contribute to the development of strategies to mitigate their negative effects.
In the image: the Italian EFD-02 instrument detects variations in the electric field (box on top) linked to the precipitation of charged particles in Earth’s atmosphere. These processes are responsible for the formation of auroras (colored fluctuations on bottom). Earth is seen from the pole.