Satellites for NASA funded AERO-VISTA mission to be built by NanoAvionics

NanoAvionics has received a contract to build two nanosatellites for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AERO-VISTA mission team at NanoAvionics' recently opened manufacturing facility in Columbia, Illinois, USA. Funded by NASA's H-TIDeS (Heliophysics Technology and Instrument Development for Science program), the mission is led by MIT and includes several partners: MIT Haystack Observatory, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Merrimack College, Dartmouth College, and Morehead State University. Morehead State is responsible for bus contracting and ground operations services.

The two identical spacecraft: AERO (Auroral Emissions Radio Observer) and VISTA (Vector Interferometry Space Technology with AERO) will be based on NanoAvionics' standardized pre-integrated and pre-qualified 6U nanosatellite bus M6P. Both will house a novel electromagnetic vector sensor antenna developed by MIT's Lincoln Laboratory.

The aim of this first in-space demonstration is to study from a low Earth orbit (LEO) unexplained features about the nature and sources of radio emission from the Earth's aurora. With a targeted launch in 2022, the AERO-VISTA mission is expected to last three months.

"The aim of the NASA-funded mission is to greatly improve our knowledge of Earth's aurora by studying its fascinating radio emissions from orbit," according to Dr. Philip Erickson, principal investigator (PI) of AERO.

"This is an ambitious task, and takes a talented set of dedicated professionals to solve the many technical and science challenges of small satellite platforms. We're delighted to have NanoAvionics join the AERO and VISTA team as our satellite provider. We have a bright future ahead and I'm excited to work with NanoAvionics on making our goals a reality. The resulting understanding of our near-Earth space environment benefits all who seek to learn about the natural world."

Dr. Frank Lind, VISTA PI, states, "We are very excited about NanoAvionics joining the AERO-VISTA team. Ultimately space science missions are about people exploring our world. It takes a great team of people to make that happen. NanoAvionics is now a key part of our team and we are looking forward to designing and building our satellites with them."

Dr. Benjamin K. Malphrus, professor of Space Science at Morehead State University and co-PI on the mission said: "The room for discovery in this area is wide open and there are many aspects of the aurora that are not well understood. The vector sensor antenna is unlike anything that has previously flown. It has the potential to produce significant science returns.

"After a long and competitive search process, the team selected NanoAvionics to provide the two satellite buses. NanoAvionics is an innovative company with a highly capable bus and was an excellent fit for this potentially significant science mission. We have been extremely impressed with the NanoAvionics team and look forward to flying their 6U bus on the AERO-VISTA mission."

F. Brent Abbott, CEO of NanoAvionics US said: "Being part of this first-of-its-kind MIT research mission and working with such an august team is very exciting and the selection of NanoAvionics as the mission integrator shows the confidence in our technology and strong performance of our nanosatellite buses."

To accomplish the AERO-VISTA mission, the vector sensor onboard the two nanosatellites will measure amplitude and phase of radio emission in the Earth's aurora zone - the geographic area above the Arctic Circle where the Northern Lights appear. Using a sun-synchronous polar orbit will allow sensing of radiation not visible from Earth.

In addition to their respective mission, coordinated observations by the pair will demonstrate interferometry, merging or superimposing waves to create an interference pattern from which information about the source can be extracted.

Interference measures how two or more waves interact, akin to throwing stones into a calm pool. If successful and validated in flight, the expected result will produce higher-resolution data providing deeper insight into phenomena investigated by space-based radio telescopes.

Related Links
"After a long and competitive search process, the team selected NanoAvionics to provide the two satellite buses. NanoAvionics is an innovative company with a highly capable bus and was an excellent fit for this potentially significant science mission. We have been extremely impressed with the NanoAvionics team and look forward to flying their 6U bus on the AERO-VISTA mission." Microsat News and Nanosat News at SpaceMart.com

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Iran receives signals from Noor satellite: commander
Tehran (XNA) Apr 26, 2020
Several stations across Iran have received signals from the Noor 1 (Light 1) satellite that was launched into space on Wednesday, Tasnim news agency reported on Friday, quoting commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force. Amir Ali Hajizadeh said the Noor 1 satellite has been placed into orbit and is circling the Earth once every 90 minutes. The land stations in Tehran, Zahedan and Chabahar cities have received signals from the satellite, said Hajizadeh. The ... read more