The INSPIRE series of satellites for multi-point Ionospheric observations

Abstract:

The International Satellite Program in Research and Education (INSPIRE) grew out of courses at the University of Colorado to teach aspiring students about the design and development of small spacecraft and the outstanding science that can be accomplished with such missions. The INSPIRE consortium has grown to 12 space faring universities spread across the globe with seven small satellite missions in development currently. The mission objectives range from studying Ionospheric dynamics, Earth atmosphere monitoring and Solar observations. The first satellite in the program INSPIRESat-1, a 12U satellite, has been built and undergone environmental testing at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at CU Boulder. The spacecraft is awaiting launch on an ISRO Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle to an expected 40^o inclination orbit. INSPIRESat-1 carries the Compact Ionosphere Probe developed at National Central University in Taiwan. CIP will make in-situ measurements of ion density, composition, temperature, velocity, and electron temperature at mid and low latitudes. IDEASSAT/INSPIRESat-2 is a 3U satellite developed at the National Central University in Taiwan, carrying CIP, expected to launch by the end of 2020 into a high inclination polar orbit. The Atmospheric Coupling and Dynamics Explorer (ARCADE)/INSPIRESat-4 is a small satellite of 27U size flying on a near equatorial orbit developed by the Satellite Research Centre at Nanyang Technological University that will make measurements from CIP on an equatorial orbit. ARCADE, scheduled for launch in June 2022, carries an ion thruster that will enable measurements below 350 km for a period of 6 months. Together the INSPIRE series of satellites will make ionospheric measurements at a range of altitudes and local times.