The Space Weather Atmospheric Reconfigurable Multiscale Experiment (SWARM-EX) Satellite Constellation: Mission Review and Progress Update

The Space Weather Atmospheric Reconfigurable Multiscale Experiment (SWARM-EX) is an intercollegiate Cube Satellite mission funded by the NSF to measure spatial and temporal variability in the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) and equatorial thermospheric anomaly (ETA). This project will fly three identical 3U CubeSats, each equipped with a Langmuir Probe to measure plasma density and a FIPEX sensor to measure atomic oxygen at altitudes between 380-500 km. Equipped with formation flying capabilities, the SWARM-EX constellation will be configurable on orbit, allowing the mission to investigate the persistence and correlation of atmospheric features on time scales less than one orbital period (~90 minutes), and monitor the evolution of EIA and ETA over the mission duration (>1 year).

The SWARM-EX team has made significant progress on developing individual subsystems, and is working to begin fully integrated testing on the mission's Flat Sat. Included in these tests are the mission's flight instruments, which have been assembled and are undergoing acceptance and thermal testing, in addition to communications tests with SWARM-EX's command and data handling system. Preparations for SWARM-EX's environmental testing has also begun, to ensure that the three spacecraft will survive launch as well as the thermal/vacuum environment on orbit.