Session
Session 9: Science/Mission Payloads 2
Abstract
We present a proposal for a space-based array, composed of six 6U CubeSats, designed to localize the radio emission associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun. Radio emission from CMEs is a direct tracer of the particle acceleration in the inner heliosphere and potential magnetic connections from the lower solar corona to the larger heliosphere. Furthermore, CME radio emission is quite strong such that only a relatively small number of antennas is required. This type of Heliophysics mission would be inherently cost prohibitive in a traditional spacecraft paradigm. However, the use of CubeSats, accompanied by the miniaturization of subsystem components, enables the development of this concept at lower cost than ever before. We discuss the most recent updates on this mission concept, starting from the science and driving technical requirements. We then focus on the SunRISE concept of operations. The mission would consist of six 6U CubeSats flying in a passive formation in a geostationary graveyard orbit, thus allowing them to form an interferometer while minimizing the impact on operations complexity. We also provide an overview of the ground and flight system design. Finally, we discuss the future trades that would be required if this mission were to be further studied.
Presentation
Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment (SunRISE) Proposal: Status Update
We present a proposal for a space-based array, composed of six 6U CubeSats, designed to localize the radio emission associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun. Radio emission from CMEs is a direct tracer of the particle acceleration in the inner heliosphere and potential magnetic connections from the lower solar corona to the larger heliosphere. Furthermore, CME radio emission is quite strong such that only a relatively small number of antennas is required. This type of Heliophysics mission would be inherently cost prohibitive in a traditional spacecraft paradigm. However, the use of CubeSats, accompanied by the miniaturization of subsystem components, enables the development of this concept at lower cost than ever before. We discuss the most recent updates on this mission concept, starting from the science and driving technical requirements. We then focus on the SunRISE concept of operations. The mission would consist of six 6U CubeSats flying in a passive formation in a geostationary graveyard orbit, thus allowing them to form an interferometer while minimizing the impact on operations complexity. We also provide an overview of the ground and flight system design. Finally, we discuss the future trades that would be required if this mission were to be further studied.
