ONERA nanosat project ONSAT-1 on radiation belt monitoring and effects

In 2019, ONERA begins a project to launch its first nanosat in 4 years: ONSAT-1. Several missions were proposed for a phase A study, two of which concern the radiation belt and its effects: CREME and ESD-Cubesat. A mission will be selected in July 2019 for a launch in 2022.

To support this mission, ONERA develops also the SpaceLab, a tool for mission analysis and definition, and the OnsatLab, a laboratory to design, built and test the nanosat payload. The nanosat platform will be built by the partner of the mission.

The objective of CREME is to built a miniaturized radiation monitor on a 3U cubesat, based on long history of detector design (ICARE, ICARE-NG). In case of success, this instrument could be embedded on all satellites (smallsat as well as commercial ones) for providing new data for radiation belt in-house models and space weather products.

ESD-Cubesat carries a package of instrument to analyse the electrostatic discharge (ESD) phenomena which occurs in particular in LEO auroral zone. The instruments are fixed on the sides of a 3U cubesat and will measure the charge of the satellite, detect the ESD, discharge passively the satellite or create artificial charge (for period out of the LEO auroral zone).

The presentation will present the overall ONSAT-1 project, its status, with a focus on these both missions.