Low resource magnetometer for space

weather applications and implementation

on RadCube

C. Palla1, P. Brown1, H. Eshbaugh1, T. Oddy1, J. P. Eastwood1, B. Zabori2,

D. Nolbert3, G. Marosy4
1Space and Atmospheric Physics, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London
2MTA Centre for Energy Research

3Astronika

4C3S

15th European Space Weather Week, 5-9 November 2018, KU Leuven

Contents
 Background

 Instrument overview

 Flight heritage

 Implementation on RadCube

 Mission overview

 Design
 Expected measurements

 Conclusions
2/16
Background
Space Weather

In situ measurements are

currently sparse

Obstacle to improve our

understanding of
Sun-Earth interaction

SSA: Space Weather (Courtesy of ESA)

Constellation missions: enable comprehensive and broader set of

magnetic field data at many points simultaneously
Long time and high cost for implementation of traditional large class
scientific missions

3/16
Background
CubeSats
Commercial companies &
start-up activities

Growing market segment

Interesting solution and

novel approach
SpaceWorks forecast and Full Market Potential
projections for (1-50) kg satellites, derived from 2016
Nano-Microsatellite Market Forecast data.

Mass, volume, power budgets limited

Heritage magnetometer instruments (e.g.: fluxgate sensors) not typically

employed on nanosatellites

4/16
Instrument overview
Miniaturised AMR magnetometer
MAGnetometer from Imperial College (MAGIC)
• 3-axis anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensor
• Hybrid design
• Ultra-lightweight harness (<10 g per m)
• Optimise noise performance, minimise power (<1 W)
• 100 krad TID tolerance
 Suitable for CubeSats & small satellites classes

Main elements:
• Triad MR Honeywell sensors
• Gate driver for flipping pulses
• Non-magnetic capacitor
• Temperature sensor

5/16
Flight heritage
Missions
 Flown on 3 LEO CubeSats: TRIO-CINEMA ( 2012, 2013)
 Improved design developed for Sunjammer microsatellite

MAGIC suite for CINEMA The CINEMA CubeSat

6/16
Flight heritage
Science results Archer et al., Ann. Geophys. 2015

• Transients of ~20-60 nT
• Correspond to current
On CINEMA, MAGIC detected magnetic field
densities of a few μAm-2
fluctuations associated with field aligned currents • Consistent with POES
(FAC) over northern auroral oval and DMSP data

7/16
Implementation on RadCube
Mission overview
• 3U CubeSat
• funded, under IOD GSTP
• MAGIC part of the RadMag payload
• Launch planned in 2020
• Status: approaching CDR

Aim & Objectives

The RadCube CubeSat
• Demonstrate miniaturised instrument
technologies in LEO for space weather
monitoring
• MAGIC goal: improve understanding of field
aligned currents and ring current during
geomagnetically disturbed conditions

8/16
Implementation on RadCube
Design overview Main Features

• 2 AMR three axes DC sensors: Volume Electronics 90x90x1.8 mm3

Sensor 21x21x11 mm3
• In-board (IB) Mass 20 g (Sensor+harness)
• Out-board (OB) ~70 g (Electronics)
Power <1 W (12V DC)
• Main sensor and control loop at TRL 9
Range ± 60 000 nT

• Technical developments needed: Sensitivity 2 nT (calibrated)

Cadence 1 vector/s
 Changes on mechanical design 10 vectors/s
 Inclusion of intelligence & voltage
conditioning
 Refining front end electronics
 Components optimized for longer lifetime
mission than CINEMA

EBB model of OB sensor

9/16
Implementation on RadCube
Mechanical design

Tape spring boom up to

80 cm from S/C
RadMag payload
OB sensor

Redesign interface Boom wrap around

50% volume reduction wrt CINEMA
with boom cylindrical structure

10/16
Implementation on RadCube
Electronic design
 Inclusion of intelligence via Atmel ATmega128
microprocessor:
• enabling use of standard communications
protocol to bus
• flexibility in instrument management
 Voltage conditioning via the addition of buck
converters MAGIC Simulator for RadCube

MAGIC PCB:
• Power electronics
• Microprocessor & digital circuitry
• ADC
• IB magnetometer & signal chains (3 axes)
• OB signal chains (3 axes)
• Digital potentiometers
• V & I monitoring MAGIC Lab model for RadCube

11/16
 Implementation on RadCube
Electronic design
User interface

Current
Mag field generator
measurement display

2.2 nT peak-to-peak 0.1 Hz

field variation detected by OB OB sensor
sensor inside Mu-metal 2.2nT peak-to-peak 0.1 Hz field harness
shielding with solenoid applied variation detected by OB
field. sensor Lab model (x-axis)
inside can with solenoid applied
field.
Adaptor board Mu-metal
connected to PC shielding
with solenoid
Lab model board Power supply

12/16
Implementation on RadCube
Measurements
Study of magnetic field
expected properties

Effects of a stormy geomagnetic

environment:
0-2.5% changes in average
magnetic field strength over
spacecraft trajectory,
i.e.~0-1200 nT dynamic changes

Magnetic field strength (1-min resolution data) for a few orbital Two different levels of field
periods for the LEO trajectory in the case of quiet and stormy
conditions.
observations applicable

13/16
Implementation on RadCube
Measurements
Levels for LEO Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
- geomagnetic activity dependence
of the auroral oval boundary;
- geomagnetic field specific
- magnetic disturbances caused by
region localization (SAA,
- overall mapping of the FACs;
FACs – auroral oval)
geomagnetic field to - current density of FACs and its
Scientific goals - inputs for geomagnetic field
support radiation data geomagnetic activity dependence;
model validations/comparison
analysis - study of disturbances due to
- contribution for attitude
geomagnetic storms in the
determination
magnetic field strengths and
orientation
Range ±60000 nT ±60000 nT ±60000 nT
Accuracy 1000-5000 nT 1-100 nT 0.1-1 nT
Sampling rate 0.05-0.5 Hz 0.5-10 Hz 1-50 Hz
CINEMA 3U CubeSat mission and MAGIC instrument, RAX-1 (Radio Aurora Explorer) CubeSat
Ref. missions mission and MicroMag3 instrument, DICE CubeSat and SciMag instrument, SWARM satellites (3)
and data, CHAMP satellite and data

14/16
Implementation on RadCube
Measurements
How to exploit the measurements in the best way?

Conjunctions with
Scientific target of interest other missions Guest investigator
(e.g. geomagnetic storms) campaign

Opportunity to share MAGIC data with the

scientific community

Could improve our capabilities to predict space weather phenomena such

as geomagnetic storm, but also understanding of substorms

15/16
Conclusions
• Flight heritage + MAGIC improved design = optimized, more resilient and
flexible magnetometer instrument
• Future implementation as “plug and play” sensor on CubeSats, to be used
either in a constellation configuration or as single hosted payload
• Payload for space weather monitoring in the context of ESA SSA’s D3S
monitoring concept.

Dr. Chiara Palla

c.palla@imperial.ac.uk

Thanks for your attention!

16/16