Space Weather Research Missions with Small Satellites in China

Recent advances in technology miniaturization have enabled building small spacecraft (less than 1000kg) and micro- and nano-satellites, for low cost and with decent reliability. Small‐satellite missions can both complement larger missions by filling gaps in time and/or coverage, and constitute stand‐alone missions with specific scientific and application targets. Constellations of dozens, hundreds, maybe even more small satellites could provide the information needed to monitor the vast space weather environment. This talk will introduce the space weather research missions with small satellites in China, including Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S), ESA-CAS Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), and Self-Adaptive Magnetic Reconnection Explorer (SAME). ASO-S will reveal the multiple relationships between solar magnetic field, solar flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). SMILE will carry out global imaging of the interaction between solar wind and magnetosphere for the first time. SAME aims to make simultaneous and self-adaptive measurements of plasmas at electron-ion-macro scales with a fleet of 12+ cubesats and one mother satellite.