Preliminary langmuir probe analysis from ESPRIT

On 1 July 2006, the ESPRIT sounding rocket launched several student-built scientific instruments from Andøya Rocket Range in Norway. Two of the instruments had the objective of characterizing the plasma environment: Langmuir probes and a plasma frequency probe. This paper presents a brief overview of the ESPRIT mission, but focuses mostly on the analysis of the Langmuir probes experiment. The Langmuir probes experiment included one swept-bias probe and one fixed-bias probe, both radial to the payload axis. Comparisons between datasets from the Langmuir probes and the ground-based instruments are emphasized. A preliminary investigation of die Langmuir probe data shows several interesting features. The scientific measurements include the presence of a noctilucent cloud (NLC), polar mesospheric summer echo (PMSE), and a sporadic-E layer.