The CORBES mission aims to utilize a multi-satellite configuration to explore variations in Earth's radiation belts by maintaining a near-equatorial orbit, with an apogee at approximately seven Earth radii, similar to Geostationary Transfer Orbits (GTO). By deploying multiple satellites in this orbit, CORBES will distinguish spatial from temporal changes in the radiation belt, significantly enhancing our understanding of these dynamic regions. Each satellite is expected to operate for a minimum of one year, ensuring both cost-effectiveness and mission continuity.
The mission seeks to deepen knowledge of outer radiation belt dynamics, leveraging its CubeSat constellation to gather detailed measurements of energetic electron flux, geomagnetic field shifts, and plasma waves. This data will provide insights into physical processes impacting the radiation belt, including:
Energy diffusion: Triggered by local resonant electron interactions with Very Low Frequency (VLF) waves like whistler-mode waves, particularly during geomagnetic storms.
Pitch angle scattering: Resulting from interactions between electrons and magnetospheric plasma waves, including whistler hiss and electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves.
Radial transport: Caused by drift resonance between electrons and Ultra-Low-Frequency (ULF) waves, along with sudden electric field changes from large-scale magnetic field alterations such as shock-induced injection and storm convection.
Electron escape: Occurs as electrons exit the magnetosphere into the solar wind via magnetopause shadowing and other outward radial transport mechanisms.
This comprehensive analysis will enable CORBES to build a more complete understanding of electron transport, acceleration, and loss mechanisms, refining scientific models and predictive tools for the radiation belt environment.
Each CORBES satellite will carry a suite of three primary instruments: the Magnetometer (MAG), Search Coil Wave Detector (SCWD), and High Energy Electron Detector (HEED). These instruments are designed to operate in highly inclined, elliptical orbits, achieving a perigee of 280 km and an apogee of 7 Earth radii, with an orbit period of about 13.5 hours. During each 10.5-hour pass through the outer radiation belt, these CubeSats will collect precise data on magnetic fields and electron populations. Spin-stabilized at approximately eight rotations per minute, each satellite's sun-facing axis ensures orientation consistency. With a mass limit of 30 kg per satellite, the mission prioritizes efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Communication and data transmission will utilize S-band for command functions and X-band for downlink, with satellites planned for deployment via one or two rockets. This coordinated deployment allows for individual releases of each satellite, ensuring their proper placement within the intended orbit.
The mission's Assembly Integration and Testing (AIT), radiation shielding, and cross-calibration are critical. In-orbit cross-calibration ensures data consistency, using observations from specific conditions to align readings across multiple instruments. HEED's cross-calibration, for instance, compares electron selection data during quiet magnetospheric phases, while MAG and SCWD rely on calm period data to verify their measurements.
International collaboration is a hallmark of the CORBES mission, with contributions from the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Innovation Academy of Microsatellites (IMAC), and Finland's Foresail program, among others. Instrumentation is shared among institutions including the National Space Science Center (NSSC), Beihang University, and the University of Turku, fostering a robust equipment lineup that supports the mission's objectives.
CORBES operates under a data-sharing policy that grants open access to its collected data, facilitating contributions to the global research community's understanding of magnetospheric dynamics. COSPAR has supported the mission's organization, coordination, and partnerships with academic and government institutions.
Over forty collaborative meetings have been held, gathering input from scientists worldwide to define CORBES's objectives and payload requirements. With COSPAR's backing, CORBES aims to address critical questions about wave-particle interactions and radial transport within Earth's radiation belts, representing a significant advance in space science. Two scientific papers detailing CORBES's technical design and goals have been submitted to Advances in Space Research.
The comprehensive data from CORBES is expected to aid in developing predictive models and enhance our understanding of space weather influences on the radiation belt, solidifying its role as a vital tool in monitoring Earth's space environment.