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The electronics on FAST are programmed to collect data in an intelligent manner. The data is used in real time to check for interesting events in order to change to different sample rates, i.e. modes. The different modes are called slow survey, fast survey, burst, and high-speed burst memory. For example, when FAST passes over the auroral oval, the electron energy flux is enhanced, triggering the electronics to change from slow survey to fast survey. Within the auroral oval, burst and high speed burst memory modes are set when triggered by events that might warrant further study, such as density cavities or ion beams. Eight algorithms are used to determine what qualifies events worth recording at burst rates. FAST can also be commanded by ground to use different triggers for a given orbit. Data collection is controlled by the spacecraft Instrument Data Processing Unit and is stored on a 125 MByte solid state recorder and telemetered to ground stations when they are in view. From the ground stations, the data is moved to Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and then on to the Mission & Science Operations Center at Berkeley, CA. FAST produces a prodigious amount of data (nearly 1 terabyte in the first 2 years), so its archival is as automated as possible.
For more information, please see Science Operations and Data Handling for the FAST Satellite, by McFadden et al (2000). To access summary plots and cdf files of the burst particle data please see the Data page. Examples of FAST Data
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