UVSQ-SAT, a small nanosatellite to observe the Sun and the Earth - Imagine a new way for measuring Earth's energy imbalance
Abstract
UVSQ-SAT (UV & IR Sensors at high Quantum efficiency onboard a small SATellite) is a small nanosatellite (10 cm × 10 cm × 11.35 cm, 1.4 kg, 1.6 W), which is scheduled to be launched in December 2020 on a low Earth orbit with an altitude between 500 and 600 km. The objectives of this in-orbit demonstration CubeSat range from science to education and outreach. The first scientific goal is to measure the incoming solar radiations (total solar irradiance) and the outgoing terrestrial radiations (top of atmosphere outgoing longwave radiations and shortwave radiations) using twelve miniaturized thermopiles sensors. The second scientific goal is to monitor the solar spectral irradiance at 215 nm (Herzberg solar continuum) using four photodiodes based on intrinsic advantages of pulsed laser deposition of ZnO nanostructures with MgZnO alloy. The third objective is to space-qualified a medical device for astronauts. All UVSQ-SAT instruments can acquire the technical maturity for the future large missions (constellation that insure global measurement cover) by flying in a CubeSat. The UVSQ-SAT mission is intended to demonstrate the ability to build a low-cost satellite with a high accuracy measurement in order to have constant flow of data from space by using miniaturized instruments (volume, mass, power, telemetry).