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The contribution of the Upper Plasmasphere (the altitudes above semi-synchronous orbit height up to the Plasmapause height) to the Total Electron Content (TEC) at any given location has been and continues to be an un-quantified component. So far, as TEC could not be measured directly and needs to be derived from other parameters, it has not been possible to derive this component from traditional methods such as incoherent scattering radars, ground based ionosondes, satellite sounders and GNSS dual frequency measurements. Dual frequency measurements from GNSS such as GPS, GLONASS and Galileo cannot be employed as the Upper Plasmaspheric altitudes are above the satellite orbit altitudes of these GNSS.

The PEACE instrument in the Chinese – European Space Agency Double Star TC1 (Tan Ce 1) satellite and its highly eccentric equatorial orbit provide an excellent opportunity to build Upper Plasmaspheric TEC components in the Equatorial region from empirical in-situ measurements of electron density along the orbit in the 20000km to 40000km altitude range.

The methodology developed and presented in this research generates a first time ever (comprehensive) database of Upper Plasmaspheric TEC components along the orbital path of the TC1, using a methodology of approximation equating arcs of the orbits to straight-line TEC Bars, which utilizes highly complex and advanced mathematics. This research aims to develop this methodology as such that the Plasmaspheric TEC component can be determined by applying it on the in situ measurements of electron density measured by any satellite having an eccentric elongated orbit.