Session

Poster Session 1

Location

Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Abstract

CubeSats are becoming increasingly prominent due to their accessibility, affordability and versatility. An emerging field of satellite application is the monitoring of ionospheric space weather, made possible by sensitive instruments that collect data on plasma potential, temperature and ion density. These parameters vary due to changing solar activity in the form of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and solar flares, which can have severe impacts on satellite navigation systems, radio communication networks and orbital estimations. The AUStronauts team at the University of New South Wales is developing a 3U CubeSat with two space weather payloads – an Electrodynamic Tether (EDT) and a Fluxgate Magnetometer (FGM) – to improve ionospheric space weather modelling and advance the application of small satellites. Initial prototyping using CAD and schematic software is currently in progress, with qualification testing planned for later this year.

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Aug 23rd, 12:00 AM

AUStronauts 3U CubeSat Space Weather Payloads Proposal

Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT

CubeSats are becoming increasingly prominent due to their accessibility, affordability and versatility. An emerging field of satellite application is the monitoring of ionospheric space weather, made possible by sensitive instruments that collect data on plasma potential, temperature and ion density. These parameters vary due to changing solar activity in the form of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and solar flares, which can have severe impacts on satellite navigation systems, radio communication networks and orbital estimations. The AUStronauts team at the University of New South Wales is developing a 3U CubeSat with two space weather payloads – an Electrodynamic Tether (EDT) and a Fluxgate Magnetometer (FGM) – to improve ionospheric space weather modelling and advance the application of small satellites. Initial prototyping using CAD and schematic software is currently in progress, with qualification testing planned for later this year.