SEAM nanosatellite mission: scientific objectives, instrumentation and operation
by
Mykola Nickolay Ivchenko(KTH space Ceneter)
→
Europe/Stockholm
FA31
FA31
Description
The SEAM project is funded within the
European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for
research, technological development and demonstration
under grant agreement no 607197. Our consortium
develops a 3U CubeSat – Small Explorer for Advanced
Missions (SEAM) – for space physics research. We will
demonstrate in flight a concept of an electromagnetically
clean nanosatellite with precision attitude determination,
flexible autonomous data acquisition system,
high-bandwidth telemetry and an integrated solution for
ground control and data handling.
Scientifically, the SEAM satellite will conduct high
performance measurements of magnetic field on a
nanosatellite. Working together with other active satellites
and ground-based facilities, the satellite will contribute to
monitoring the space-weather relevant parameters, such as
the structure of the auroral currents, and the ELF/VLF wave
activity, allowing to address the distribution of the cold
plasma in the plasmasphere by analyzing the dispersion of
whistler waves, and to monitor the aurorally generated
ELF/VLF waves.
In this presentation we report on the aspects of the satellite
central for the science mission: the magnetic sensors,
deployable booms and magnetic cleanliness approach to
reduce the satellite’s own disturbances. Results of
engineering model testing are reported here as well.
We also touch upon the operation plan.
