| Popis: |
Space weather research is data-starved and small satellites offer an opportunity to the community. Over the past few years, Boston University’s Center for Space Physics has been developing a 6U CubeSat that deploys a small swarm of magnetometers to measure the fine-scale structure of the Birkeland currents that create the Aurora. By using direct three-axis measurements, spatially distributed, we hope to probe the plasma currents and fuse the data with other data products from ground-based optical and radio measurements. Boston University’s broad expertise in space physics and engineering systems offers a strong platform to foster a close relationship between those communities and to tailor the development of experiments while closely integrating students from several research fields. Through the efforts of such students, the ANDESITE program was selected to fly by the Air Force University Nanosat Program, and has been awarded a launch opportunity through NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) initiative for the summer of 2017. Our university continues to foster a small satellite program and has used the momentum of its success in UNP-8 to lead development of new missions. Here in this paper, we will discuss the mission and concept of operations of ANDESITE, and how it integrates into current research at Boston University, along with a description of the strengthening satellite program at the school. |
