The Science Behind SURROUND: a Constellation of Cubesats Around the Sun

Dale Weigt, L. A. Cañizares, S. A. Maloney, S. A. Murray, E. P. Carley, Alejandro Macario-Rojas, N. Crisp, C. McGrath

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientificpeer-review

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Abstract

One of the greatest challenge facing current space weather monitoring operations is forecasting the arrival of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) within their Earth-Sun propagation timescales. Current campaigns mainly rely on extreme ultra-violet and white light observations to create forecasts, missing out many potential events that may be hazardous to Earth’s infrastructure undetectable at these wavelengths. Here we introduce the SURROUND mission, a constellation of CubeSats each with identical radio spectrometers, and the results of the initial Phase-0 study for the concept. The main goal of SURROUND is to monitor and track solar radio bursts (SRBs), widely utilised as a useful diagnostic for space weather activity, and revolutionise current forecasting capabilities. The Phase-0 study concludes that SURROUND can achieve its mission objectives using 3 - 5 spacecraft using current technologies with feasible SEP and CME forecasting potential: a first for heliospheric monitors.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 9th International Workshop on Planetary, Solar and Heliospheric Radio Emissions
PublisherTrinity College Dublin
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-85500-274-6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2023
MoE publication typeA4 Conference publication
EventInternational Workshop on Planetary, Solar and Heliospheric Radio Emissions - Dublin, Ireland
Duration: 26 Sept 202228 Sept 2022
Conference number: 9

Workshop

WorkshopInternational Workshop on Planetary, Solar and Heliospheric Radio Emissions
Abbreviated titlePRE
Country/TerritoryIreland
CityDublin
Period26/09/202228/09/2022

Keywords

  • solar physics
  • space weather prediction
  • space weather operations
  • triangulation

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