NanoMagSat (Scout 3)[1] is a future satellite constellation under development by the European Space Agency (ESA) for the study of Earth’s magnetic field and ionosphere.[2][3][4][5][6][7] The mission will consist of three 16U CubeSats named Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie (A, B, and C)[2] in low-Earth orbit at an altitude of 545 km,[8] two at an inclination of 60° and one in polar orbit.[9][3] Each satellite will be equipped with a long deployable boom carrying an absolute magnetometer at its end and a high-frequency magnetometer positioned midway along the boom. The body of each satellite will carry a multi-needle Langmuir Probe and two GNSS receivers.[8][10] The satellites are being built by the UK-based company Open Cosmos[8][11][12][13] and their first launch is expected in late 2027.[14]
See also
References
- ^ Big Data Foundations for Earth Observation – Scouts and Direction of New ESA Missions
- ^ a b eoPortal: NanoMagSat
- ^ a b Kulu, Erik. “NanoMagSat”. Nanosats Database. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
- ^ Sakharkar, Ashwini (2024-02-22). “ESA to build two new Scout missions: NanoMagSat and Tango”. Tech Explorist. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
- ^ Arranz, Carlos J.; Marchese, Valentina; Léger, Jean-Michel; Vallmitjana, María; Jager, Thomas; Pous, Marc (2023). “Magnetic cleanliness on NanoMagSat, a CubeSats’ constellation science mission”. 2023 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility – EMC Europe. pp. 1–6. doi:10.1109/EMCEurope57790.2023.10274205. ISBN 979-8-3503-2400-6.
- ^ Hulot, Gauthier; Léger, Jean-Michel; Clausen, Lasse B. N.; Deconinck, Florian; Coisson, Pierdavide (2022). “NanoMagSat, a nanosatellite LEO constellation for monitoring Earth’s magnetic field and ionospheric environment”. 44th COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 16-24 July. 44: 3565. Bibcode:2022cosp…44.3565H.
- ^ Hulot, Gauthier; Coïsson, Pierdavide; Duchêne, Robin; Leger, Jean-Michel; Jager, Thomas; Clausen, Lasse B. N.; Jorgensen, John L.; Deconinck, Florian (2023). “On the future NanoMagSat LEO nanosatellite constellation observations of space environment”. URSI GASS 2023 – XXXVTH URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium. doi:10.46620/URSIGASS.2023.2178.HUJY1777. ISBN 978-94-63968-12-6.
- ^ a b c Parsonson, Andrew (2024-11-27). “ESA Award Open Cosmos a €34.6M for NanoMagSat Mission”. European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
- ^ CEA (2024-08-29). “NanoMagSat: nanosatellites to study Earth’s magnetic field”. CEA/Leti (english). Retrieved 2026-01-23.
- ^ NanoMagSat, a 16U Nanosatellite Constellation High-Precision Magnetic Project to Initiate Permanent low-cost Monitoring of the Earth’s Magnetic Field and Ionospheric Environment
- ^ “ESA awards development contract for NanoMagSat”. www.esa.int. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
- ^ Foust, Jeff (2024-11-29). “ESA, OpenCosmos sign contract for NanoMagSat mission”. SpaceNews. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
- ^ “Open Cosmos signs contract with the European Space Agency to progress key elements of the NanoMagSat mission concept”. www.open-cosmos.com. Retrieved 2026-01-23.
- ^ “The NanoMagSat mission gets go-ahead from ESA! – Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris”. 2024-03-11. Archived from the original on 2025-11-26. Retrieved 2026-01-23.