Session
Session X: Advanced Sensors
Abstract
The scientific community and NASA are continually evaluating and setting the direction of future Aeron-omy missions, including those targeted at space weather. Missions, and the required supporting technologies, have historically been outlined within strategic plans developed for NASA by the science community. Many of the pro-posed future missions will require constellations that act as single missions, making coordinated observations as a single virtual instrument. The science return occurs from the multi-point or spatially distributed observations and not from a collocation of a complex suite of instruments, as does the current model. The only conceivable way many of these missions can be achieved is through the use of small, low-cost satellites. Thus, future science objectives will very likely push the development of small satellites for constellation missions. Within this paper we show the trend of Aeronomy science missions towards multiple spacecraft and outline some of the missions proposed by the sci-ence community requiring small satellites.
Presentation Slides
The Role of Small Satellites in Aeronomy
The scientific community and NASA are continually evaluating and setting the direction of future Aeron-omy missions, including those targeted at space weather. Missions, and the required supporting technologies, have historically been outlined within strategic plans developed for NASA by the science community. Many of the pro-posed future missions will require constellations that act as single missions, making coordinated observations as a single virtual instrument. The science return occurs from the multi-point or spatially distributed observations and not from a collocation of a complex suite of instruments, as does the current model. The only conceivable way many of these missions can be achieved is through the use of small, low-cost satellites. Thus, future science objectives will very likely push the development of small satellites for constellation missions. Within this paper we show the trend of Aeronomy science missions towards multiple spacecraft and outline some of the missions proposed by the sci-ence community requiring small satellites.
