Cluster Tango Wideband Data: High-Resolution Plasma Wave Measurements

The Cluster mission's four satellites (Rumba, Salsa, Samba, Tango) collected calibrated waveform data for electric and magnetic fields in three frequency bands up to 577 kHz. Data includes instrument mode, quality flags, and orientation angles relative to the magnetic field and GSE coordinate system. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration provides this data, with files available in BIN format.

Use Cases

• Analyze wave propagation modes based on electric field antenna and magnetic search coil sensor data.
• Study frequency band characteristics (9.5 kHz, 19 kHz, 77 kHz) and their shifts up to 501.816 kHz.
• Correlate wave activity with spacecraft orientation using provided magnetic field and GSE coordinate angles.
• Investigate high-time-resolution waveform events sampled at intervals down to 4.6 microseconds.
• Assess data quality and instrument operating modes for specific telemetry downlink periods.

Strengths

• Data is collected from four distinct spacecraft, providing multi-point observations.
• Offers high time resolution, with sampling intervals as low as 4.6 microseconds.
• Includes calibrated values for both electric and magnetic field components.
• Provides three selectable frequency bandwidth modes (9.5 kHz, 19 kHz, 77 kHz) with adjustable base frequencies.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data availability depends on specific times of DSN and Panska Ves ground station telemetry downlinks.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Data collected by Wideband Data (WBD) Plasma Wave Receivers on the Cluster satellite mission.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:28:47.219793; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Observations from spacecraft in orbit around Earth.