IDEA #4G48T9 Nanosatellite For Electromagnetic Measurements

AEROSPACE NANOSATELLITE FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC MEASUREMENTS Description Nanosatellite is a new super$inexpensive mobile instrument for electromagnetic environment study near International Space Station (ISS). The instrument is capable to measure, store and transmit to the base station data about the fol$ lowing parameters:· – three components of the constant magnetic field in the range ± 65 000 nT;· variations of magnetic field in the frequency range 0.1...40 000 Hz; electric potential in the frequency range DC...40 000 Hz; the current density in the frequency range 0.1 ... 40 000 Hz; kinetic plasma parameters – temperature, concentra$ tion and velocity of the charged and neutral particles. – – – Innovative Aspect and Main Advantages Carefully developed conception of the instrument based on the cheap industrial single$board computer PC$104 with open operational system LINUX and low$power sensors with high metrological character$istics provides for:· – – – – low cost;· low power consumption;· low physical dimensions and weight;· possibility of the rapid modernization. Areas of Application Equipping the ISS for monitoring of its surface electric po$ tential and electromagnetic environment. With minor mo$ dernization the nanosatellite could be used as a fully auto$ nomous measuring system for both space and ground applications. Fig. 1. Nanosatellite for electromagnetic measurements Stage of Development The engineering model was tested at laboratory conditions. A group of sensors passed the tests in the plasma$dynamic vacuum chamber under conditions close to operation requi$ rements. Contact Details Lviv Centre of Institute of Space Research NASU – NSAU Contact person: Marusenkov Andriy Address: 5A Naukova St., 79000 Lviv$60, Ukraine Phone: 380$32$2296214, 380$322$639163 Fax: 380$322$639163 and $638244 Email: marand@isr.lviv.ua Website: www.isr.lviv.ua 66 SCIENCE AND INNOVATION. № 4, 2006