Geosynchronous orbit access strategy for the NASA SunRISE Explorer Mission

Abstract:

The Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment (SunRISE) is a NASA Explorer mission scheduled to launch in 2023 consisting of six small satellites in a 10km diameter constellation orbiting just beyond geosynchronous orbit. Two novel aspects of the SunRISE mission are its acquisition of a commercial rideshare by the project itself and the deployment of small satellites beyond geosynchronous orbit. By orbiting above geosynchronous orbit, SunRISE is able to achieve two compelling scientific objectives, namely to understand how energetic particles are accelerated near the Sun and transported into space by making the first images of low frequency radio bursts between 0.1-20 MHz associated with coronal mass ejections and solar flares. Placing the constellation above geosynchronous orbit allows it to operate far from the distortion and absorption of the ionosphere and sources of terrestrial radio interference that prevents this wavelength range from being observed on the surface of Earth. Along with the SunRISE mission design and status,