DiSSECT – Development of a small satellite for climate research

Paper number

IAC-14,B5,1,10,x22911

Author

Mr. Michael Deiml, Technische Universität München, Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Martin Kaufmann, Research Centre Juelich, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Peter Knieling, Wuppertal University, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Friedhelm Olschewski, Universtiy of Wuppertal, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Panagiotis Toumpas, University of Wuppertal, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Martin Langer, Technical University of Munich, Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Manfred Ern, Research Institute Juelich, Germany

Coauthor

Prof. Ralf Koppmann, University of Wuppertal, Germany

Coauthor

Prof. Martin Riese, Research Center Juelich, Germany

Year

2014

Abstract

The University of Wuppertal, Research Centre Jülich and Technical University of Munich are developing a small satellite for climate research (DiSSECT). This paper focuses on its mission and the science payload. Based on the three unit CubeSat form factor, the payload consists of a small spectrometer for the observation of airglow, namely O\small2 atmospheric band emissions at 760 nm. These data are utilized to derive temperature data, and dynamical wave structures at the same time. Coupling processes initiated by waves in the middle atmosphere have increasing importance for the modeling of the climate system and represent one of the larger uncertainties in this field.  To support new modeling efforts to resolve the wave fields, spatially resolved measurements of different wave patterns are needed. 
In this paper, two spectrometer designs for the observation of O2 atmospheric band emissions are discussed. These are a monolithic spatial heterodyne spectrometer (SHS) and a piezo-actuated Fabry-Perot interferometer (PFPI).  Both, the SHS and the PFPI can be highly miniaturized. The SHS consists of a solid block and has no moving parts, which increases the reliability in orbit while allowing high precision measurement within a small volume. Both instruments have not yet been flown on a CubeSat and have high potential to increase the importance of small satellites for science missions. DiSSECT is intended as a pathfinder for future remote sensing CubeSat constellations.

Abstract document

IAC-14,B5,1,10,x22911.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-14,B5,1,10,x22911.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.