Speaker
Description
A CubeSat constellation platform has been found to be a tempting and cost-effective solution for monitoring of space weather at LEO, which would complement higher altitude space weather observations, providing data for validation of space weather models and using assimilation for better spatial and temporal resolution, thus enabling downstream services for operational use in aviation and other user sectors. A constellation with continuous monitoring capability of solar X-ray fluxes and spectra, high-energy particles, and ionospheric electron density variability would be a suitable solution for such purpose.
There are already high-TRL solutions for space weather instruments adapted for CubeSats, like the XFM-CS for the Sunstorm 1 mission (ESA) and high-energy particle monitors. Radio beacons with high TRL and CubeSat platforms are also available, and already in use for the space weather instruments and other purposes. We present a CubeSat constellation concept suitable for space weather at LEO including the platform, payload, and the ground segment, and discuss the use of the data from the system for new space weather services.
