AOARD-09-4159 Awarded to National Observatory of Athens

TITLE:  An Improved Model for Operational Specification of the Election Density Structure Up to Geosynchronous Heights.  This contract was awarded for the Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD) to the National Observatory of Athens in response to AFOSR-BAA-2008 IAW FAR 6.102(d)(2)(i).  It is a Research & Development contract IAW FAR Part 35.  It is a Firm-Fixed-Priced contract IAW FAR 16.02-1 & -2.  The Period of Performance is 12 months (4 Aug 2009 - 3 Aug 2010).  The contractor shall investigate electron density structures within the atmosphere up to geosynchronous heights.  Specific tasks include:  (1) development of an advanced model for electron density reconstruction up to geosynchronous height based on the Topside Sounders Model assisted by Digisonde parameters; (2) validation of the model based on all available topside and incoherent scatter radar profiles and on estimates from the receivers co-located with ionospheric sounders; and (3) definition of new DIAS products based on the reconstructed electron density profiles.  These tasks will be completed at the National Observatory of Athens under the leadership of Dr. Ioanna Tsagouri and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences under the leadership of Professor Ivan Kutiev.